Steel Products
JSW to Sell Baytown, Texas Facility
Written by Sandy Williams
August 22, 2013
JSW Steel Ltd. is considering selling its U.S. mill in Baytown, Texas said reports by Bloomberg. JSW, India’s third largest steel maker, hopes to pay off some of its debt and boost earnings margins by selling the USA asset. In its fourth quarter earnings statement in March 2013, the company reported a decline of 61.56 percent in consolidated net profit; debt is reported to be $3.4 billion.
The Baytown facility is currently operating at 40 percent capacity, said joint managing director Seshagiri Rao, but is expected to boost production to 50 percent from new construction and energy orders.
JSW acquired a 90 percent share of the Texas plant for $900 million in a joint venture in 2007 with JFE Holdings Inc. JFE now holds a 15 percent share in the company. The facility was expected to turn slabs from India into pipe and steel plate for the oil and gas industry but failed to meet expectations when the steel market bottomed out in 2008.
“The company will start looking for buyers once the plant has turned around,” said Rao in a phone interview with Bloomberg.

Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Products

US rig count up, Canada declines
Oil and gas drilling activity was mixed this week, according to Baker Hughes. US rig counts expanded for a second straight week, while Canadian activity continued its seasonal slowdown of eight consecutive weeks.

US, offshore CRC prices continue to diverge
US cold-rolled (CR) coil prices declined again this week, slipping for a third straight week. Most offshore markets did the opposite, moving higher this week.

S232 lifts EU HR price over US, Asian HR still well behind
Domestic hot-rolled coil prices were flat this week after dropping for four straight weeks. Most offshore markets bucked the trend and gained ground.

SMU Steel Demand Index dips into contraction
SMU’s Steel Demand Index has moved into contraction, according to late April indicators. The slowdown comes in response to growing tariff uncertainty after the index reached a four-year high in late February.

Nucor selects Fives Group for new galv line at CSI
Nucor Corp. has tapped Fives Group as its partner in designing and manufacturing the new continuous galvanizing line being added at its California Steel Industries (CSI) joint venture in Fontana, Calif.