Located in Hunan province and central part of China, Hunan Valin Iron & Steel is one of the largest steelmakers in the country with annual steel production capacity of 8.5 million tons. Its main products include steel pipes, bars, wires, sectional products, and hot-rolled steel plates along with copper plate pipes and inner-twisted pipes. Hunan Valin products are distributed in mainland China and exported throughout much of Asia as well as to the US. The Company's major customers are in the construction sector and its primary market is southern China with limited exports to the U.S, South Korean and other countries. Its annual output is about 9 million tons of steel and 8 million tons of steel products; hot-rolled steel plate is the company's biggest revenue generator.  It was formed in 1999. In 2005, the company sold about a one-third stake in publicly listed subsidiary Hunan Valin Steel Tube & Wire Company to what is now ArcelorMittal