British Steel’s products have been showcased by its new owner across ‘home’ markets in China, as the global prospects for UK products were welcomed.
Jingye Group hosted a major conference in Hangzhou, introducing the product portfolio of the Scunthorpe headquartered early year acquisition.
More than 300 sales representatives, customers, industry experts and academics attended, with British Steel chief executive Ron Deelen highlighting capabilities via web link.
He said: “Building on the good work already undertaken by the Jingye sales team, this event has provided an excellent platform for us to engage with our new stakeholders in China.
“When British Steel was bought by Jingye Group on 9 March, a new chapter began in British steelmaking.
“The subsequent outbreak of Covid-19 may have restricted travel, but it has not prevented us from developing a collaborative working partnership with Jingye.
“We have a long and proud heritage and we’re excited about what we can achieve together to build a successful future for many years to come.”
Zhang Jueling, vice president of Jingye Group, took the audience through the product performance and industrial applications of rail, construction, special profiles, wire rod, processed wire and semi-finished products, before opening the floor to questions, with British Steel’s technical team handling customer-specific requirements.
Several upcoming trials with key strategic organisations were also highlighted.
Gareth Stace, director general of UK Steel, who also attended the session, said: “Jingye’s acquisition of British Steel heralds a new opportunity to collectively explore global prospects for British-made steel.”
It came four months on from the deal, with Business Secretary Alok Sharma in Scunthorpe to oversee the completion with the Official Receiver. British Steel had been placed in compulsory liquidation the previous May, when debts of £880 million were revealed.
It was a buy-out that saved 3,200 jobs across the business.
Jingye was formed in 1988 and specialises in the production of steel bar, plate and coil products - with British Steel's range and specialisms seen as complementary. It operates 18 blast furnaces, producing 15 million tonnes of steel annually, with sales to 80 countries totalling £10.1 billion.
