SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp.’s flagship mill in Lemery, Batangas, is nearly 50-percent complete, a senior company executive said, with construction progressing ahead of its original mid-2026 target.
The facility is on track to become the Philippines’ first large-scale producer of structural steel sections like H-beams and I-beams, which are currently imported, SteelAsia vice president for industry development Roberto Batungbacal said.
“This project reflects our commitment not just to meet the nation’s infrastructure needs but also to generate thousands of new jobs and create opportunities for Filipinos,” Batungbacal said in a statement.
The Lemery Works mill will reduce the country’s reliance on imports of heavy steel sections used in bridges, ports and high-rise buildings, which previously took months to acquire, according to the company.
The plant will use electric arc furnace (EAF) technology to produce 1.1 million metric tons of steel annually from recycled scrap metal. This modern process significantly reduces carbon emissions compared to traditional blast furnaces.
The project, which has an investment of P11.45 billion from state-owned lenders and the Philippine Business Bank, received “Green Lane” certification from the Department of Trade and Industry to expedite permits.
The Batangas facility is part of SteelAsia’s P82-billion expansion program to build five new plants across the country. The company, the Philippines’ largest steelmaker, operates six mills and supplies more than 70 percent of the domestic rebar market.
Batungbacal said SteelAsia aims to employ around 3,000 people across all its plants.
