Two Federal Reserve manufacturing indexes were released this week with both regions showing strong activity in August. Richmond manufacturing remained relatively steady in August, while Kansas activity rebounded from a weaker July. Fifth District (Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond) The composite manufacturing index in the Fifth District was unchanged in August at a solid reading […]
Manufacturers in the precision metalforming sector are not expecting much change in business conditions during the next three months, although orders are expected to trend slightly downward, according to the August 2017 Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) Business Conditions Report. Current average daily shipping levels dropped significantly in August with 28 percent reporting levels above those […]
More than a billion dollars of financing is headed to Big River Steel. The Osceola, Ark., steel company announced Thursday that it has closed on $1.225 billion of financing that will be used to refinance a substantial majority of its outstanding debt and for general corporate and working capital purposes. The financing includes $600 million […]
Rules of origin for automobiles continue to confound NAFTA negotiators. Currently, 62.5 percent of an automobile must be made in North America to qualify for duty-free status within the NAFTA region. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer wants to push that percentage higher to reduce content coming from Europe and Asia. However, Lighthizer’s obsession with reducing the […]
U.S. Steel’s Section 337 allegations of trans-shipment of Chinese steel products are being challenged by seven Chinese steel mills. U.S. Steel alleges that respondents in the case are misrepresenting country of origin in steel shipments in order to elude antidumping and countervailing duties. Baosteel Group, HeSteel Group, Masteel Group, Shougang Steel Group, Shagang Steel Group, […]
The United States and Canadian leaders of the United Steelworkers released a joint statement on Wednesday advocating NAFTA rules-of-origin, strong labor and environmental rights. United Steelworkers International President Leo W. Gerard and Canadian National Director Ken Neumann urge strengthening regional rules-of-origin for autos, auto parts and manufactured products, including requirements for melting and pouring steel […]
BlueScope Steel, the parent of North Star BlueScope, will have a change in command. Mark Vassella has been appointed the new managing director and chief executive officer following retirement by outgoing CEO Paul O’Malley effective Dec. 31, 2017. O’Malley has been at the helm of BlueScope Steel the past 10 years of his 12-year tenure. […]
Olympic Steel announced the promotion of Terry Rohde to Director of Operations. Rhode began his career at Olympic Steel in 2008 and was promoted to General Manager of the Chicago division in 2008. In his new role he will responsible for all of Olympic Steel’s facilities and equipment. Olympic also announced the promotion of Scott […]
Zinc prices hit a 10-year high this past week, climbing to $3,000 per metric ton ($1.36 per pound) on the London Metal Exchange on Wednesday. Strong global demand and shrinking inventory boosted prices, as well as a shortage of Chinese zinc. The primary use of zinc is for the production of coated steels such as […]
Zinc prices hit a 10-year high this past week, climbing to $3,000 per metric ton ($1.36 per pound) on the London Metal Exchange on Wednesday. By Monday, zinc had risen to $1.41 per pound. Strong global demand and shrinking inventory boosted prices, as well as a shortage of Chinese zinc. The primary use of zinc […]
The “woodie” automobile, popular in the 1940s and ’50s, may be on its way back, but in a seriously different mode. Japanese researchers are developing the latest challenge to automotive steel, a super-strength, lightweight product that uses wood as a raw material. Cellulose nanofiber, made from wood pulp, is mixed into plastics forming a product […]
Lenders pursuing the purchase of Canadian steel mill Algoma have reached an agreement with the City of Sault Ste. Marie regarding payment of Algoma’s back taxes. We have settled the tax issue,” Mayor Christian Provenzano told The Sault Star. “We are satisfied that we recovered enough moneys in our negotiations to ensure that we were […]
June’s rebound in housing starts was short-lived, according to data from the Department of Commerce on Wednesday. Housing starts dipped in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,155,000, 4.8 percent lower than the June estimate and 5.6 percent below the July 2016 rate. Construction of single-family homes was relatively steady, slipping just 0.5 […]
The “woodie” automobile, popular in the 1940s and ’50s, may be on its way back, but in a seriously different mode. Japanese researchers are developing the latest challenge to automotive steel, a super-strength, lightweight product that uses wood as a raw material. Cellulose nanofiber, made from wood pulp, is mixed into plastics forming a product […]
Manufacturing activity jumped sharply in New York State in August. The general business index of the Empire State Manufacturing Survey leapt 15.4 points to 25.2, its highest reading since September 2014. The new orders index rose seven points to 20.6 and shipments gained nearly two points for a reading of 12.4. Delivery times increased slightly, […]
Cliffs Natural Resources, in celebration of 170 years in business, has returned to its historical name Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. “The historical name Cleveland-Cliffs is synonymous with our strong heritage and is the perfect one for our next era of growth,” said Chairman, President and CEO Lourenco Goncalves. “As we did more than 60 years ago, when […]
Cliffs Natural Resources, in celebration of 170 years in business, has returned to its historical name Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. “The historical name Cleveland-Cliffs is synonymous with our strong heritage and is the perfect one for our next era of growth,” said Chairman, President and CEO Lourenco Goncalves. “As we did more than 60 years ago, when […]
Trade actions are moving ahead in the Section 337 case against Chinese steel producers. Sanctions have been placed on two of seven Chinese respondents by Administrative Law Judge Dee Lord for failure to produce documentation necessary to investigate transshipment charges brought by U.S. Steel. On June 28, 2017, U.S. Steel filed a motion for sanctions […]
Thyssenkrupp CEO Heinrich Hiesinger told analysts this week that the Tata merger would be an important milestone for the company, but other options are available if it doesn’t occur. The German CEO hopes to concentrate on Thyssenkrupp’s diversified industrial portfolio by folding its steel business into a joint venture with India’s Tata Steel. Hiesinger said […]
Algoma is looking for 63 good people. With retirement looming for 25 percent of its workforce in the next three years, Algoma is looking to attract new employees for production positions that include general labor, production operations and production shipment. “We have 700 employees eligible to retire today. As these people transition into retirement, there […]
Steel imports are higher this year than 2016, but still below levels of 2015, according to ports on the West and Gulf Coasts. The Port of New Orleans has seen imports increase slightly over a year ago. In the first six months of 2016, imports rose to 1,186,630 tons from 1,179,037 tons in the same […]
Nucor Corporation announced today that it will acquire St. Louis Cold Drawn, Inc., a manufacturer of cold finished steel bar. The company’s cold drawn rounds, hexagons, squares, and special sections serve the U.S. and Mexican automotive and industrial markets and will add to Nucor’s value-added product portfolio. “This acquisition fits with our planned growth strategy […]
NAFTA renegotiations are under way and automakers are concerned about changes to rules of origin for automobiles. Strengthening the rules could make U.S. auto and manufacturing sectors less competitive globally, warned speakers at a Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) event on Wednesday. Representatives of American and international automotive producers charged that stronger rules of […]
CENTRIA, an industry leader in architectural metal wall and roof systems, announced the promotion of Jeff Peskowitz to Manager of Product Management. Peskowitz, who joined CENTRIA in 2015, will be responsible for all product management activities and cross-functional collaboration with sales, operations, brand marketing, engineering and research and development. In addition, Kimberly Rager, is joining […]
China domestic demand is driving a tandem rise in iron ore and steel pricing. Iron ore prices are at their highest level since April as Chinese steel producers gobble ore to take advantage of high margins and surging summer steel prices. Although China is ahead of its target for reducing steel capacity this year, Chinese […]
Nebraska began final hearings on the Keystone XL pipeline this week to determine if approval of the long-delayed project is in the best interest of its citizens. Nebraska is the last of three states that must give a thumbs-up for the project before the pipeline can finish winding its way from Canada’s Alberta province to […]
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union ratified a three-year contract extension with the Pacific Maritime Association last week that will help ensure smooth port operations through 2022. The contract covers roughly 20,000 longshore workers at 29 ports in California, Oregon and Washington. The current agreement was set to expire on July 1, 2019; the newly […]
Ryerson Holding Corp. turned in a strong performance in Q2 despite conflicting business and industry conditions, said President and CEO Eddie Lehner. Margins took a hit as steel import levels rose and nickel and carbon hot rolled prices moved lower. “Ryerson saw some mix-shift impact to margins,” said Lehner, “as sheet and stainless related demand […]
Construction employment increased by 6,000 jobs in July to the highest level since October 2008, amid a tight labor market that may be keeping contractors from hiring as many workers as they need, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials urged local, state and federal […]
Gilbert Kaplan, nominee for undersecretary for international trade at the Department of Commerce, was questioned today by the Senate Finance Committee on how he will approach trade issues for the nation. As undersecretary, Kaplan would be responsible for promoting U.S. trade and enforcing trade laws. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) pressed Kaplan on whether he supported […]