Steel Shortage May Cut Toyota Production in Japan

Toyota Motor Corp. may idle its auto plants in Japan for at least a week after an explosion at a steel plant disrupted its supply of the metal, according to Japan’s TBS News.

The television report says a furnace blast at an Aichi Steel plant in Chita on Jan. 8 has disrupted the facility’s ability to produce specialty steel for the carmaker. TBS News says the factory won’t resume operations until March.

Separately, Kyodo News reports that Toyota will suspend overtime production in Japan on Feb. 1 and could suspend output at all its domestic auto plants beginning Feb. 8. The company produces roughly 13,000 vehicles per day in its home country.