More than 700 executives are registered with slightly more than two months to go before the start of the 2019 SMU Steel Summit Conference. We continue to see strong interest in this year’s event, which will be held in Atlanta, Ga., on Aug. 26-28. Once again, the Georgia International Convention Center (www.gicc.com) will be the […]
So, I don’t even need to be in the office to know what question(s) I am going to be asked all this week. Now that President Trump has removed the Section 232 tariffs from Canada and Mexico (without a quota, but instead a promise of no surge), everyone wants to know how this will affect […]
Worthington Industries, Inc., has promoted Jeff Klingler to president of Steel Processing and Eric Smolenski to president of Pressure Cylinders. “Jeff and Eric are both proven leaders at Worthington; they will be excellent additions to our executive team,” said John McConnell, Chairman and CEO. “Jeff has a deep knowledge of our Steel business and has […]
Worthington Industries President Andy Rose described the third quarter of fiscal year 2019 as a “noisy period” in terms of earnings. “There continues to be a lot of noise in our third-quarter results,” said Rose. “The biggest challenge we have been facing is the steel tariffs, which have created artificial pricing mechanics that should have […]
Union Partners, a full-service metals and logistics company, announced that Steve Letnich will join the company as Chief Operating Officer of Contractors Steel, effective immediately. Letnich has held several leadership positions in his 25 years in the steel and metals industry including those at Outokumpu, Castle Metals, Central Steel & Wire and Worthington Industries. “We […]
Worthington Industries reported net sales of $958.2 million for its fiscal 2019 second quarter ended Nov. 30, a 10 percent increase over the same quarter in fiscal 2018. However, its quarterly earnings were not as strong. Operating income totaled $35.9 million, a decrease of $16.2 million from the prior-year quarter. “I am pleased with the […]
Commerce has issued a preliminary affirmative determination in the countervailing duty investigation of steel propane cylinders from China. A preliminary subsidy rate of 42.77 percent has been assigned to Shandong Huanri Group and producers and exporters in the “all other” category. A preliminary rate of 145.37 percent has been assigned to TPA Metals and Machinery […]
The 8th SMU Steel Summit Conference is scheduled to begin on August 27th at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta,, Georgia. Registrations are already close to 700 on our way to 750-800 attendees at this year’s event. You can find out more about the conference schedule, companies attending, costs and how to register on […]
Worthington Industries, Inc., the Columbus, Ohio, steel processor and manufacturer, reported net sales of $3.6 billion and net earnings of $194.8 million for its 2018 fiscal year ended May 31. While the company’s sales increased by 19 percent over the prior year, its earnings showed a decline from the $204.5 million in fiscal 2017. Improved […]
Welcome back to those of you in the United States who had the Fourth of July off, but didn’t decide to take a few extra days and extend the holiday. SMU was closed on Tuesday and Wednesday in honor of the Fourth and also to give myself a bit of a break having just been […]
I am in London attending meetings with our new parent company, the CRU Group. I have been very impressed at the depth of the work being done by the CRU team. I will be sharing more about the CRU Group in the days and weeks ahead. I do want to stress to those of you […]
I am excited for you, our customers. I have been working closely with the CRU Group, and our members will begin to see some subtle changes to the articles we write. One will be the use of CRU data on such items as our Foreign vs. Domestic Price Spread articles, which we will publish in […]
Chicago-based Union Partners announces the appointment of Chris Sekella as Executive Vice President for U.S. Operations. Sekella will be responsible for the overall leadership of operations for Union Partners’ family of companies. Specifically, he will be spearheading the strategy and day-to-day operations of Union Partners’ premier service centers that specialize in metal distribution and processing […]
The SMU Steel Summit Conference is THE fastest growing steel conference in North America and THE one conference manufacturing, distribution, suppliers to the industry and steel mills want to attend. Details about the agenda, speakers, location and costs, as well as how to register, can be found on our website: www.SteelMarketUpdate.com/Events/Steel-Summit or you can contact […]
Despite a run of disruptions during its first quarter, Worthington CEO and Chairman John McConnell is optimistic about the new fiscal year. “We believe that most of the markets we serve are healthy with some showing more strength than others,” said McConnell. “We are off to a good start in fiscal 2018.” Worthington Industries’ earnings […]
The following steel mills are registered to attend this year’s SMU Steel Summit Conference at the end of this month: ArcelorMittal Mexico, ArcelorMittal Dofasco, ArcelorMittal/Nippon Sumitomo Calvert, Ternium USA, Ternium Mexico, NLMK USA, Nucor, Nucor Mexico, Nucor Canada, Kandil Steel (Egypt), California Steel Industries, AK Steel, CSN USA, North Star BlueScope, Steel Dynamics Inc., The […]
I was advised late on Friday afternoon that we should expect a Nucor price increase early next week. With scrap prices firming $10 to $30 per ton our expectation is for the increase to be $25-$30 per ton. Then the question will be will the industry support another increase after tepid (at best) support for […]
Wilbur Ross will be on Capital Hill again this week as he advises the House Ways and Means Committee on the status of his Section 232 investigation. It seems like the longer the market waits for an announcement (or at least the recommendations from the Department of Commerce) the less enthusiastic people are that anything […]
Worthington Industries posted a strong fourth quarter, setting record annual earnings per share and quarterly net earnings of $56.5 million. Net sales increased 18 percent year-over-year to $845.3 million. Steel processing sales rose 25 percent to $582.2 million, driven by higher average selling prices. Automotive demand is beginning to soften, said President and COO Mark […]
The Metals Service Center Institute, Rolling Meadows, Ill., has elected Holman Head chairman of the MSCI board, effective July 1. Head is president and chief operating officer of O’Neal Industries, Birmingham, Ala. He replaces Richard A. Robinson, president of Norfolk Iron & Metal Co., Norfolk, Neb., who has served as chairman for the last two […]
Worthington Industries reported net sales of $703.4 million for third quarter FY 2017 and net earnings of $35.9 million. The company claimed inventory holding losses of $3 million and restructuring charges of $1.4 million. “We had a very good third quarter performance with Steel Processing contributing near record earnings and overall, we produced year-over-year growth, which […]
If you are a steel buyer thinking that this rash of price increase announcements has run its course you may want to re-think the market forces again. One of the major scrap exporters booked a cargo of 80/20 mix to Turkey at $296 per metric ton delivered. They also sold shredded scrap at $301 delivered. […]
Worthington Industries announced second quarter 2017 net earnings (ending Nov. 30, 2016) were $46.6 million on $727.8 million in net sales. In comparison Q2 earnings were down from first quarter earnings of $65.6 million but double that of Q2 2016. “We had a good second quarter with overall improving results and solid year-over-year growth,” said […]
The following article on the hot rolled coil (HRC), busheling scrap (BUS), and financial futures markets was written by David Feldstein. As Flack Steel’s director of risk management, Dave is an active participant in the hot rolled coil (HRC) futures market and we believe he will provide insightful commentary and trading ideas to our readers. […]
Worthington Industries delivered record earnings in the first quarter of FY 2017 (ending August 31, 2016). Net sales totaled $737.5 million for net earnings of $65.6 million. Gross margin increased $34.3 million year-over-year to $147.3 million primarily due to inventory holding gains of $17 million in Steel Processing which were partly offset by lower volume […]
A strong finish to the 2016 fiscal year drove annual earnings per share to a record $2.22 for Worthington Industries. Earnings for fourth quarter, ending May 31, 2016, were were $58.8 million with sales of $714.7 million. Net earnings were more than double Q4 2015 earnings of $28.9 million. “While we expect some headwinds to […]
Worthington Industries reported net sales of $647.1 million for third quarter 2016, ending February 29. Sales were down from second quarter and year over year as a result of lower volume in Pressure Cylinders and Engineered Cabs, combined with lower average selling prices in Steel Processing due to a decline in the market price of […]
Worthington Industries posted net sales of $699.8 million and net earnings of $23.2 million for second quarter 2016 ending November 30, 2015. CEO John McConnell called it a “solid performance for the quarter in the face of some market weakness.” Sales were down 19.7 percent compared to the prior year’s second quarter as result of […]
Worthington Industries reported net earnings of $31.4 million for first quarter 2016 ending August 31, 2015. Earnings were down from $44.2 million in Q1 2015 but up from Q4 FY 2015’s $28.9 million. Net sales declined 12 percent to $758.1 million, driven by lower volume in all business segments and lower average steel pricing. Gross […]
Worthington Industries closed fourth quarter FY 2015 with net sales of $846 million and net earnings of $28.9 million. Quarter earnings were negatively impacted by pre-tax impairment, restructuring and other charges, totaling $6.5 million. Earnings in Q4 2014 were $33.2 million. Steel processing net sales dropped 4 percent y/y to $540 million due to lower […]