Kobe Steel to move Hong Kong office to Guangzhou, China

TOKYO, January 29, 2018 — Kobe Steel, Ltd. announces that the Hong Kong office of its 100% owned subsidiary, Kobe Steel Asia Pte. Ltd. (or KSA) based in Singapore, will move to Guangzhou, China. The Guangzhou office will open in February as the branch of Kobelco (China) Holding Co., Ltd., Kobe Steel’s China headquarters based in Shanghai.

The Hong Kong office was established in January 1994 to provide sales support and technical services for steel products mainly to electrical and office automation appliance manufacturers in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and the Dongguan area. Since then, the Hong Kong office has expanded its territory to the Guangzhou area, where Japanese automotive manufacturers have been making inroads.

Kobelco (China) Holding already provides sales support and technical services for steel products to its Chinese customers. The two locations in Shanghai and Guangzhou will enable Kobelco (China) Holding to strengthen its service capabilities to customers and activities in China.

Location:

Guangzhou, China

Established:

November 2017 (with operations starting in February 2018)

Person in charge:

Yoichi Hamada (currently President of KSA and General Manager of the Hong Kong office)

Employees:

3

Business:

Sales support and technical services for steel products in the South China area

Location:

Shanghai, China

Capital structure:

100% owned by Kobe Steel

Established:

August 2009

Representative:

Yoshihiko Katsukawa (Managing Executive Officer, Kobe Steel)

Employees:

29 (after establishment of the Guangzhou branch office)

Business:

Headquarters overseeing subsidiaries and affiliates in China. Sales support and technical services for steel products.

Location:

Singapore

Capital structure:

100% owned by Kobe Steel

Established:

January 1990

Employees:

5

Business:

Sales support and technical services for steel products in Southeast Asia