China Metallurgical Group (MCC) has won a bid to build rolling and processing equipment for a new 200,000 tonne/year long products mill in Myanmar (Burma), together with the Kunming Import and Export Company. The steelworks will supply wirerod and sections for Burmese military and civilian construction projects.

Building work on the site outside Mandalay city could start as early as next month, according to reports in the Chinese media. No commissioning date was mentioned.

Improved relations between Myanmar and the west since 2011 have helped spur a wave of investments in the country, Kallanish notes. Korea’s Posco is expanding its presence with a new 50,000 t/y colour coating line, which is due to be commissioned by the end of October. This is on top of the 30,000 t/y line Posco already operates in Myanmar.

Japan’s JFE signed an agreement with Myanmar’s Ministry of Construction in December 2013 to establish a 10,000 t/y steel structure fabrication plant.

Russia’s state-owned Rostec, formerly know as Rostekhnologii,is also looking for funding for a project to install a 200,000 t/y pig iron plant using its proprietary Romelt technology.