Steel Mills
Arkansas Senate Offers Incentives to BRS to Expand
Written by Sandy Williams
March 30, 2017
Big River Steel received an incentive to expand operations after the passage of Arkansas Senate Bill 688. The new bill changes the existing law on income tax credits allowed for the purchase of waste reduction, reuse, or recycling equipment and provides tax incentives for steel mills that begin qualified expansion projects.
According to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, “qualified expansion projects” would require an investment of at least $1 billion by a company and the creation of 500 or more jobs with average wages of $75,000 per year. A “qualified steel specialty products manufacturing facility” would be required to invest $200 million and create at least 150 jobs at the $75,000 per year average wage.
Tax credits would reduce general revenue up to $11 million per year for the qualified expansion project and up to $6.5 million per year for qualified specialty products facilities. Tax credits would be applicable for 2021 if the project was completed by June 30, 2020.
The incentives are meant to encourage Big River Steel to make expansions in Arkansas and not Texas.
“When we do this, we bring the second phase to the Arkansas Delta,” said Sen. David Wallace, R-Leachville.
The bill passed the Senate by 29-1 and will be sent to the House for consideration and vote. The incentives are applicable to all qualified manufacturers of steel.
Phase 1 of Big River Steel is completed and the company produced over 63,000 tons of steel in its first full month of production in February. Phase 2 is expected to be a $500-$600 million separate, stand-alone finishing complex followed closely by Phase 3, another EAF and caster which would take the capacity of Big River from 1.6 million tons annually to more than 3 million tons.
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Mills
AISI: Raw steel production eases to 5-week low
Domestic raw steel mill production slipped to a five-week low last week, according to the latest figures released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Weekly production is now at the third-lowest level recorded this year.
Nucor maintains HR price at $750/ton
Nucor’s weekly consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled (HR) coil was unchanged week on week (w/w) at $750 per short ton (st) on Monday, Nov. 18.
Mexican court orders sale of officially bankrupt AHMSA
After failing to reach agreements with its creditors, Altos Hornos de México (AHMSA) has been formally declared bankrupt by a Mexican bankruptcy court.
AISI: Raw steel production edges back up
Domestic raw steel production recovered last week, after slipping the week prior, according to the latest American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) data. Weekly production remains at some of the lowest levels recorded this year.
Cliffs closes its 2024 HR spot book
Cleveland-Cliffs announced the closing of its December order book for hot-rolled coil spot purchases, though it said contract bookings remain available.