Kazakhstan aims to establish automotive steel production by 2028

The Kazakhstani steel  company Qarmet plans to commence production of automotive sheet steel and the mass production of body panels based on it in 2028. This is stated in a company announcement.

As Andriy Lavrentiev, Chairman of Allur Group, noted whilst speaking at a government meeting, the company is developing a cross-sector project involving Qarmet, Allur, Kia Qazaqstan and other manufacturers. It aims to integrate the steel and automotive sectors into a single production chain.

According to Lavrentiev, the priority is to create a fully integrated stamping process for passenger cars using steel produced in Kazakhstan.

According to the plan, Qarmet will begin producing automotive-grade sheet steel in 2028 that meets the technical requirements of car manufacturers, and in 2029, mass production of body panels will commence using this material. The projected capacity will be at least 100,000 car bodies per year, with Kazakhstani steel accounting for no less than 75% of the material used.

The project has been backed by Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektanov, who believes the initiative is of strategic importance to the industry. He emphasised the importance of accelerating the pace of localisation, including work on creating the country’s own car brands.

It should be noted that Qarmet is expanding its range of steel products meeting high standards of quality and technical specifications – the company has added A500SEU rebar with diameters ranging from 8 to 40 mm, characterised by increased ductility and resistance to repeated loading. The products have successfully undergone voluntary certification.