NKK Corp., Japan's second-largest steelmaker, said Thursday it is holding talks with a steel unit of major German industrial group Thyssen Krupp AG to strengthen technological cooperation.
The move follows an announcement Tuesday by Nippon Steel Corp., Japan's top steelmaker, that it has signed an alliance accord with France's Usinor SA, Europe's largest steelmaker, in the steel sheet business for automobiles.
NKK said the talks with Thyssen Krupp Stahl AG are mainly aimed at meeting global demand from automakers. It has already had technology exchanges with the German firm.