Kawasaki Steel Corp. said Wednesday it has formed a comprehensive business alliance with Stelco Inc. of Canada in a bid to step up business in the country. Kawasaki and Stelco will jointly develop materials for large-diameter steel pipes as well as steel plates and bars for use in automobiles.

Stelco, based in Hamilton in the province of Ontario, produced 4.95 million tons of crude steel in 2001.