NKK Corp., Japan's second-largest steelmaker, and Kawasaki Steel Corp., No. 3 in the field, announced Friday that they have agreed to integrate their operations in October 2002 under a joint holding company.

The two steelmakers will then realign themselves into several firms in April 2003 under the holding company, they said.

The combined annual crude steel production would total 32 million tons, exceeding the output of Japan's top steelmaker, Nippon Steel Corp.