	nippon kokan steel affiliates considering merger toshin steel co ltd toss t and azuma steel co ltd affiliates of nippon kokan kk nkkt t are considering a merger company spokesmen said toshin steel owned pct by nippon kokan and azuma steel owned pct by nippon kokan are expected to decide by the end of march they said both firms have been struggling with losses caused by the recession in the steel industry and the yen s appreciation azuma steel s current losses are estimated at billion yen in the year ending march against a billion loss a year earlier a spokesman said the firm employs workers toshin steel with workers has given no forecast for the year ending march but industry sources said they expected the company to show current losses of about five billion yen or more in compared with a billion loss in reuter 
