Steelmakers will have to remain cautious in their business management before economic activity picks up in the United States and Russia, Sato said during a recent interview with Kyodo News.
The rate of capacity utilization at Kobe Steel hit bottom in April and has since risen back to around 70 percent from about 60 percent earlier this year, he said.
"We expect the rate to rise further to some 80 percent later in 2009, though our money-losing trends will continue." Sato also said Kobe Steel is set to develop specialty steel products which are "strong and easy to process" in order to help automakers improve the fuel efficiency of motor vehicles as their top priority.
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