Japan’s Nippon Steel Corp is looking at the possibility of expanding their hot dip galvanized sheet productions in North America. According to company president Akio Mimura the company needs at least one more galvanizing line in North America. Demand for HGI sheets, used as the outer plate for automobiles has been rising and the company needs to expand in order to meet the rise in demand. Nippon currently has the capacity to produce 500, 000 tons of HGI sheets annually in the North American market. The new line could add a possible 400, 000 to 500, 000 tons annually. Production is currently used to supply demand from Japanese automakers. (May 30)