Crisis-hit Tata Steel asks suppliers to slash prices

Company's UK-based Long Products division supplies steel beams, railway tracks and other products

Amid a crisis in Britain's steel sector, Tata Steel has warned its suppliers that if they do not slash prices by up to 30% in the long term then they risk losing the steel giant's business.

The company's UK-based Long Products division, which supplies steel beams, railway tracks and other products, has written to its suppliers asking for an immediate 10% price cut which must go up to 30% in the long term.

In a letter signed by Lorraine Sawyer, procurement director of Tata Steel Long Products Europe, which makes up about a quarter of the company's operations in Europe, the company spells out the difficulties it is currently facing, including global over-capacity and declining steel prices.

The letter says: "UK-based steel manufacturers have been particularly challenged by their higher cost position driven by high energy prices and business rates...Worsened by sterling's appreciation.

"To ensure a long term sustainable business we have launched a transformation programme to improve our market performance and reduce our cost base. The business will focus on reducing external spend. We cannot achieve this transformation without the support of our valued suppliers.

"To this end we are seeking a long-term price reduction of 30% on all purchases. As a first step we would appreciate an immediate price reduction of 10%.

"Supporting each other in these challenging times will enable us to further strengthen our relationship into the future. We look forward to having a long term partnership with you."

Last month Tata Steel announced nearly 1,200 job losses at its plants in Scunthorpe and Lanarkshire, as a part of a restructuring plan amid struggling operations.

Nine hundred jobs will be lost at the firm's plant in Scunthorpe and the remaining 270 jobs will go in Scotland.

The letter indicates that suppliers who do not comply may be dropped from the company's supply chain: "We greatly appreciate your support but also want to stress that we require contribution from all of our suppliers. Should you - for any reason - be unable to support us in our efforts, we will need to fully consider other options."

One recipient of the letter was staffing business Kinetic. Neil Smith, managing director of the SME, called the tone "bully boy tactics".

He told the Daily Telegraph: "It feels threatening. The language is contradictory - they talk about valued suppliers then talk about getting rid of us if we do not take a 30% price cut.

"We are well aware of Tata's troubles and a 10% might be expected but 30% is hard to swallow," he said.