Outokumpu has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Sinopec Group on material development and deliveries of stainless steel. As part of the one-year agreement Outokumpu will supply Sinopec’s subsidiary, China Petrochemical International Co., Ltd, duplex stainless steel rolled billets in 2013 for seamless pipe in one of the largest oil refinery plants in the world and also in liquefied natural gas plants.
Seamless pipes will be manufactured of rolled billets by local seamless pipe fabricators. The intention of the parties is to extend the partnership after this one-year agreement. Based in Beijing, China, Sinopec Group is one of the largest petroleum and petrochemical enterprise groups worldwide.
“As China’s largest energy and chemical company, Sinopec has the responsibility to guarantee the nation’s energy security,” said Vice President of China Petrochemical International, Lou Jianchang. “The company has made persistent efforts in diversifying the energy mix and seeking more energy sources. Sustainable material is a critical element of this process. Outokumpu, as the biggest stainless steel supplier in the world, demonstrated their leadership through technical capabilities and good local customer service. We believe that together with Outokumpu we will reach our goal towards the sustained development of the nation’s economy and the society. We also look forward to exploring more opportunities with Outokumpu.”