Contributor: Laura Miller

Laura Miller

Laura Miller is a reporter and editor for Steel Market Update. She has held a variety of positions within the steel industry since 2007, including reporting and editing for Steel Business Briefing/Platts, the Association for Iron and Steel Technology, and Kallanish Commodities, as well as marketing for what was then known as ThyssenKrupp Steel USA (now AM/NS Calvert). After a five-year hiatus working across other industries, she returned to steel in 2021 and has covered the flat rolled, tubular, and trade areas of the industry. She is a member of the Association of Women in the Metal Industries and a past-president of the AWMI Pittsburgh Chapter. She holds a BA in Latin American Studies from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She can be reached at laura@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7869.

JSW Receives Grant to Upgrade Mingo Junction’s Rail Infrastructure

JSW Steel USA is expanding the rail infrastructure at its Mingo Junction mill, thanks in part to a grant from the state of Ohio.

ArcelorMittal Q3 Earnings Drop on Weak Demand

ArcelorMittal’s earnings declined in the third quarter of 2023 both sequentially and on-year.

SMU Survey: Sheet Lead Times Extend While Plate Contracts

Lead times for most sheet products were pushed out even further this week as domestic prices continue to rise. Plate lead times, meanwhile, contracted on falling prices and waning demand.

SMU Community Chat: US-EU Are ‘Nowhere Close’ to a Global Arrangement on Steel

Alan Price discussed the deep complexity of issues in the Global Arrangement on Sustainable Steel and Aluminum negotiations between the US and EU on Wednesday’s Community Chat.

Gerdau’s North American Ops See Lower Shipments, But Outlook Positive

Declining demand and a challenging economic environment impacted Gerdau’s shipments in North America during the third quarter.

St. Lawrence Seaway Union Members Ratify New Labor Deal

Unifor members at the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. (SLSMC) have voted to ratify a new labor agreement.

Commerce Updates Duties on HR Flats From Japan, South Korea

The US Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) is updating import duties on hot-rolled steel flat products from Japan and South Korea.

Algoma Slates Two 20-Day Outages To Bring Plate Project Online

Canada's Algoma Steel is planning two 20-day outages next year as it brings the second phase of its plate mill modernization project online.

Algoma's Earnings Hit by Lower Steel Prices, But Recovery Expected

Algoma Steel said its quarterly earnings were impacted by falling steel prices and lower buying associated with the United Auto Workers (UAW) strikes in the US. But with the strikes wrapping up, it expects a recovery in both pricing and demand moving forward.

Brown Strauss Purchases Black Diamond Pipe & Tube

Brown Strauss Steel has acquired Black Diamond Pipe & Tube Inc. of Peotone, Ill., just south of Chicago.

Construction Spending Edges Higher, But Sector Still Lacks Workers: AGC

Construction spending edged higher in September, but a shortage of workers continues to constrain project completion rates, according to the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).

US Manufacturing Sector Contracts Further in October: ISM

Manufacturing activity in the US contracted once again during the month of October.

Mill Steel Promotes Craddick to VP of Sales

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based carbon flat-rolled steel distributor Mill Steel Co. has appointed Kip Craddick as its new VP of sales.

Ternium Bullish on Mexico and Increased Stake in Usiminas

Latin American flat-rolled steelmaker Ternium is seeing strong demand in Mexico, its main market. With its new mill in Pesquería, Mexico, up and running, more lines there set to come online, and the company now holding an increased stake in Brazilian mining and steel company Usiminas, Luxembourg-based Ternium is optimistic about the future direction of the company.

Auto Alliance Opposes a Potential USS-Cliffs Merger

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation (AAI), the association representing auto manufacturers making most vehicles sold in the US, has voiced its opposition to the potential acquisition of U.S. Steel by Cleveland-Cliffs.

Imports Fall in September, But Flat Rolled at Three-Month High

The decline in imports from August to September was more pronounced than license applications suggested earlier this month.

Ryerson Expects Slowing Sales, Shipments To Continue Into Q4

Ryerson saw lower sales and shipments in the third quarter and is anticipating further declines in the last quarter of the year.

USS-UPI Operations To Be Idled by Year's End

It’s official: U.S. Steel is idling its UPI operations in Pittsburg, Calif., by year’s end.

St. Lawrence Seaway Reopening After Tentative Labor Pact Is Reached

The St. Lawrence Seaway is reopening after a tentative agreement has been reached between striking Unifor members and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. (SLSMC).

U.S. Steel Talks Price Hike, Investments; Says Little on Sales Process

U.S. Steel’s third-quarter earnings call with analysts on Friday, Oct. 27, was packed full of insight into the Pittsburgh-based steelmaker’s current state of affairs.

Reliance Seeing Healthy Demand, Limited Impact from UAW Strike

Reliance Steel & Aluminum is anticipating overall demand to remain healthy through year’s end despite some weakening in some sectors and normal seasonality.

SMU Survey: Mill Lead Times Push Out Further

Mill lead times for flat-rolled products pushed out this week once again across the board.

Unifor Strike Shuts Down St. Lawrence Seaway

The St. Lawrence Seaway is shut down after members of Canada’s Unifor union went on strike against the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. (SLSMC) this past weekend.

UAW Counteroffer to Ford Could Soon Lead to Deal: Report

The United Auto Workers (UAW) union and Ford could soon reach a tentative labor deal.

Ranger Steel Acquires Heavy Plate Distributor Nance

Ranger Steel Services has acquired the steel operations of Detroit-based heavy plate distributor Nance.

Cliffs Execs Quiet on Potential U.S. Steel Deal

On the company’s third-quarter earnings call with analysts on Tuesday, Oct. 24, Cleveland-Cliffs executives were careful not to disclose anything about their talks with U.S. Steel on a potential acquisition.

Goncalves Bullish on Auto Despite UAW Strike, Bearish on Service Centers

Cleveland-Cliffs says it is taking advantage of higher demand from the automotive sector – its biggest end-use market – this year.

Cliffs Posts Higher Q3 Profits, Solid Shipments Despite UAW Strike

Cleveland-Cliffs posted solid results for the third quarter, with strong steel shipments, particularly to the automotive industry, the steelmaker said in its Q3 earnings report on Monday, Oct. 23.

AM/NS Calvert, Stelco Follow Major Sheet Mills Higher

ArcelorMittal and Stelco joined last week’s move by domestic mills to push sheet prices higher.

South Korea, Brazil Won’t Max Out HRC Quotas This Year

South Korea and Brazil will not be maxing out their allowable quotas on hot-rolled sheet shipments to the US for 2023, according to government data analyzed by SMU.