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Japanese steelmaker JFE eyes overseas financial investments in the middle of slower earnings growth

JFE Holdings prepares to ramp up abroad investments as part of a longterm drive to double profits, Japan's No. 2 steelmaker stated on Tuesday, as it posted a 21.4% increase in annual net profit but likewise flagged a. smaller boost for this year.

JFE President Yoshihisa Kitano, who took the helm on April. 1, said he would speed up the business's tactical shift from. quantity to quality, however did not offer a timeframe for doubling. its company earnings, other than stating it would take more than. 3-5 years.

Enhancing abroad profits is necessary to our objective of. doubling revenues, he told a press conference, highlighting the. organization development potential in The United States and Canada, India, Indonesia and. the Middle East.

We'll talk about the comprehensive plans ... but we want to. consider aggressive investments in overseas, he said.

JFE's rival, Nippon Steel, intends to finalise a $14.9. billion buyout of U.S. Steel, though the deal faces. opposition from several U.S. legislators revealing nationwide. security issues and U.S. Steel's union, which fears task cuts.

JFE's net earnings for the year ended March 31 concerned 197.4. billion yen ($ 1.28 billion), simply ahead of experts' average. forecast of 194.90 billion yen in an LSEG survey, thanks to higher. steel margins.

The steelmaker forecast earnings for this financial year at. 220 billion yen on a greater contribution from value-added. products and stronger price. But that fell short of an. LSEG consensus quote from experts of 231.5 billion yen.

JFE plans to expand sales of electrical steel sheets for. electric automobiles and steel plates for offshore wind power. devices, capitalising on Japan's continuous efforts to achieve a. carbon-neutral economy by 2050.

In February, JFE announced a typical boost in steel. product price of 10% from April to reflect rising raw. product costs and worldwide inflation.

It expects its non-consolidated crude steel output this. fiscal year at 23.4 million metric loads, on par with last. year, stating that while activity in the vehicle sector in the house was. expected to be robust, labour shortages and soaring products. prices were seen continuing pushing back need.

Overseas, the supply/demand balance for steel products. continues to loosen up and prices continue to stagnate owing to an. boost in exports, such as from China, JFE stated.