Guangzhou Lianzhong Stainless Steel Co., Ltd. (LISCO) is a core stainless steel production base in South China under Anshan Iron and Steel Group. As the first stainless steel manufacturer in South China to integrate steelmaking, hot rolling, and cold rolling, Lianzhong holds a significant position in China’s stainless steel industry.
I. Company Overview
Background and Development History
Established in 2001: Lianzhong (Guangzhou) Stainless Steel Co., Ltd., invested and established by Taiwan’s Yeh Lian Group, is one of the earliest modern stainless steel plants in mainland China. Located in the Guangzhou Development Zone, the company covers approximately 1.12 million square meters and is a key stainless steel production base in South China.
Anshan Iron and Steel Holdings: In 2014, Anshan Iron and Steel Group reorganized Lianzhong and acquired a 60% stake in the company, renaming it “Anshan Iron and Steel (Guangzhou) Stainless Steel Co., Ltd.” Subsequently, in 2017, it reorganized with Anshan Iron and Steel Hanzhong Steel to become a key stainless steel platform under Anshan Iron and Steel Group.
Production Capacity
- Crude Steel Capacity: According to industry statistics in 2024, Ansteel Group’s crude steel production capacity was approximately 66.14 million tons, of which Ansteel Lianzhong accounted for approximately 5.76 million tons. This data indicates that Lianzhong holds a significant share within the Ansteel system and is a key production base for high-end specialty steel and stainless steel.
- Steel Process Capacity: Global Energy Monitor (GEM) disclosed that Ansteel Lianzhong is equipped with two electric arc furnaces, with capacities of 800,000 tons/year and 1.1 million tons/year, respectively, for a total of 1.9 million tons/year. This equipment system constitutes its core stainless steelmaking capabilities.
II. Product Structure
Ansteel Lianzhong operates a complete process from steelmaking, hot rolling, to cold rolling, primarily producing 200, 300, and 400 series stainless steel. Product forms include billets, stainless steel plates, hot-rolled and cold-rolled coils, and bright-surfaced BA plate. These products are widely used in the chemical, energy, food, pharmaceutical, textile, construction, automotive, and kitchenware industries.
The following describes its main product categories, based on actual data:
- Hot-rolled stainless steel plate: Utilizing high-power electric arc furnaces and continuous hot rolling lines, the plate is produced in thicknesses of 3-12mm and widths up to 1500mm. It has excellent mechanical properties and is primarily used in pressure vessels, chemical equipment, and shipbuilding.
- Cold-rolled stainless steel coil: Through pickling and finish rolling, the plate is smooth and dimensionally precise. With a thickness of 0.3-3mm and excellent flexibility, it is primarily used in home appliances, architectural decoration, and automotive sheet metal.
- BA bright sheet: Utilizing a bright annealing process, it achieves high surface flatness and gloss. It is primarily used in kitchenware and electronic product casings.
- In addition, the company also produces a small amount of 201 series (low nickel) stainless steel plate and coil.
III. Operations and Market Position
Production and Market Share
Although Angang Lianzhong does not have much publicly available data on its annual stainless steel production, its market influence can be seen from industry rankings and overall Angang information:
- Top Ranking: In the 2024 China Stainless Steel Brand Ranking, Angang Lianzhong ranked third nationwide, behind only TISCO Stainless Steel and Qingtuo Group. This ranking reflects Lianzhong’s leading position in the domestic stainless steel market.
- Continuous Production Increase: According to a report in China Environmental News, Lianzhong Steel’s production in 2024 will increase by 55,000 tons compared to the previous year. This increase will maintain sludge generation while minimizing unit LPG consumption through energy-saving and emission-reduction measures. This demonstrates the company’s focus on green benefits while expanding production capacity.
- Group Positioning: Ansteel Group considers Lianzhong, along with key bases such as Benxi Iron and Steel and Panzhihua Iron and Steel, to form the core of its steel business. The crude steel production capacity figure of “Ansteel Lianzhong (5.76 million tons)” highlights its important position within the group.
Technical Advantages
- Complete Stainless Steel Industry Chain: Lianzhong possesses comprehensive capabilities throughout the entire stainless steel production process, from molten steel smelting, electromagnetic stirring continuous casting, hot rolling, pickling, cold rolling, and bright annealing, ensuring consistent product quality.
- Green Manufacturing Technology: The company is utilizing ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis technologies for wastewater treatment, reducing the moisture content of sludge. By 2024, the company aims to maintain the same sludge treatment volume while increasing steel production by 55,000 tons. It also reduces energy consumption through the use of low-nitrogen burners and medium-temperature, low-pressure waste heat power generation technology.
- Series R&D: Lianzhong is continuously developing new high-strength, corrosion-resistant, and nickel-saving stainless steel grades, such as 304F, 316L, and 430, to meet the upgraded steel needs of home appliances, kitchenware, and automotive applications.
