Brazil: Gerdau, Sumitomo Corporation and The Japan Steel Works announce joint venture

On January 27th, Gerdau announces its plans to form a joint venture with the Japanese companies Sumitomo Corporation and The Japan Steel Works (JSW) to serve Brazil's growing wind power industry. The project, which will require approval from anti-trust authorities, is expected to be located in Pindamonhangaba (São Paulo) and will supply parts for wind turbine towers starting in 2017.

The initiative was made possible by Gerdau 2022, a project launched in 2015 that aims to boost the competitiveness of the company's entire operations guided by a long term strategic vision. Specific measure include streamlining internal operations and structures, modernizing the corporate culture, reassessing the potential profitability of assets and developing new business opportunities.

"We're working to transform Gerdau into a more efficient and profitable company, given the current and future challenges of the global steel industry. We're seeking to join forces with partners with recognized experience in their industries in order to create new business opportunities. With Sumitomo Corporation and JSW, we will develop high-tech products for our clients, which will enable them to generate higher profit margins," said Gerdau's CEO André B. Gerdau Johannpeter.

Joint venture to serve Brazil's growing wind power industry

 The new joint venture is expected to be formed by the partners Gerdau, Sumitomo Corporation and The Japan Steel Works (JSW) and will require R$280 million in investments for the acquisition of new production equipment. Gerdau will supply assets for the production of rolling mill rolls, without any expected cash expenditures. The project will be located at Gerdau's mill in Pindamonhangaba, which will supply special steel for the manufacture of parts for wind turbine towers (main shaft and bearing rings). This project will create 100 new direct jobs.

Sumitomo Corporation and The Japan Steel Works (JSW) are Japanese companies with vast expertise in the global wind power industry and technological mastery of production processes for components for the industry.  Gerdau's joint efforts with the two companies will enable local production of parts for the construction of new wind farms in the country, supplying clients with high-quality products at competitive costs.

Gerdau's interest in the joint venture should surpass 50%, making it a higher interest in the partnership. In addition to equipment for the wind power industry, the new company will also manufacture rolling mill rolls for the steel and aluminum industry, which are products already made by Gerdau and marketed in over 30 countries. Total capacity for the production of parts for the wind power industry and of rolling mill rolls should reach 50,000 tonnes per year.

The prospects for Brazil's wind power industry are promising. According to the Brazilian Wind Power Association, Brazil's installed wind capacity currently accounts for 6% (8 GW) of the country's electricity generation. By 2024, this figure is expected to reach 11% (24 GW), according to the Ten-Year Energy Expansion Plan of the Ministry of Mines and Energy. Wind power generation is especially well suited to the country's Northeast and South, given the regions' regular winds and favorable conditions for the installation of equipment. Furthermore, wind energy is a clean and sustainable form of power generation and avoids CO2 air emissions.

The execution and formalization of the joint venture is pending analyses and approval by the applicable authorities.