OREANDA-NEWS. November 22, 2012. Mechel (NYSE: MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, announces the signing of five-year contracts for supplies of extra-size Bridgestone tires with Japan’s Marubeni Corporation during the 10th session of the Russia-Japan Inter-Government Commission on Trade and Economic Issues in Tokyo, Japan, reported the press-centre of Mechel. 

On the sidelines of the official visit of Russian Federation’s First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov to Japan, Mechel Group’s enterprises — Yakutugol Holding Company, Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and Korshunov Mining Plant — signed five-year contracts with Marubeni Corporation for the supply of Bridgestone-produced off-road tires for heavy duty dump trucks. The documents were signed in the presence of Mr. Shuvalov and Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba. Mechel OAO’s Vice-President for Commercial Activities Mikhail Urvantsev and Chief Operations Officer of Marubeni Corporation’s Lifestyle Division Katsuhisa Yabe signed the contracts.

Mechel is the first Russian mining and steel company that Marubeni Corporation granted five-year contracts for supplies of extra large-size tires. According to the contracts, over 5,000 off-road tires for heavy duty dump trucks will be supplied to Mechel Group’s enterprises.

Marubeni Corporation is one of Japan’s largest companies, which is also an authorized export dealer of Bridgestone Corporation’s products.

“These long-term contracts will help our enterprises’ stable operations and improve the efficiency of production in Mechel’s mining division, including implementation of our key project, development of Elga Coal Complex. Signing these contracts on the sidelines of a session of the Russia-Japan Inter-Government Commission on Trade and Economic Issues is a major step for the company in further developing bilateral ties with leading Japanese industrial producers, which is aimed at consolidating Mechel’s leading positions on the world market of metallurgical coals,” Mechel Chief Executive Officer Evgeny Mikhel noted.