Since its foundation in 2003, the Sumitomo Corporation Global Metals Group has been committed, based on an enterprising spirit, to creating new value through its metal products business and to contributing to the building of a sustainable and prosperous society in the dynamically changing global market. In Sumitomo Corporation’s steel business, underpinned by its history and integrity, we have been a key player in its steel business strategies ranging from planning to execution. In 2018, we took over many of those operations.

Our business is based on a principle has been a part of Sumitomo’s business philosophy for more than 400 years: “Benefit self and benefit others. Private and public interests are one and the same.” With the management resources of the Sumitomo Corporation Group and our advanced expertise as a specialized trading company as our core competences, we have expanded our network of trust at the global level and achieved steady growth.

Becoming carbon neutral is a societal issue all industries are faced with, and the steel industry in particular is under pressure to reduce its carbon emissions as its most important challenge. As a trading company that specializes in steel, we are in the same position, and I believe it is our mission to play a role in solving this problem. Our goal is to harness the strength of having full access to the Sumitomo Corporation Group’s resources in order to build a sustainable society.

In this era of rapid social change, the problems and needs of customers are becoming more diverse, and the opportunity for us to play a role in solving those problems has grown. I see these changes as an opportunity to be seized, and we will strive to improve our corporate value in a way that enables us to serve the public in a variety of ways.

While we continue to cherish, protect, and nurture the businesses that we have cultivated together with all our stakeholders, including our suppliers and business partners, we are also constantly taking on new challenges in order to achieve the reforms and the growth that are expected of us.

We appreciate your continued support and guidance.

Hiroshi Murakami, President and CEO