JAPAN

Steel Firms May Buy From South Africa: Six steelmakers plan to import iron ore from South Africa after the government lifts economic sanctions against Pretoria, industry sources said. Nippon Steel Corp., NKK Corp., Kawasaki Steel Corp., Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd., Kobe Steel Ltd. and Nisshin Steel Co. have concluded contracts with South Africa’s Iscor company, the sources said. The Japanese firms plan to import 4 million tons of South African iron ore over five years, beginning this year, the sources said. They said Japan is expected to remove economic sanctions against South Africa late this month.