Steel Mills

Longhi Talks Antidumping in WV
Written by Sandy Williams
June 10, 2014
A federal crackdown is needed on the import and dumping of cheap products in the U.S. said US Steel Corp CEO Mario Longhi to attendees at the West Virginia Manufacturers Association Leadership Summit on Monday.
Longhi, known for his strong stance on foreign import trade regulations, told manufacturers at the meeting that stronger trade laws are necessary to protect West Virginia coal jobs and maximize the benefit from oil and natural gas shale development.
Oil and gas energy development can lead to a resurgence of U.S. manufacturing said Longhi. He reiterated the need to fight dumping of OCTG products from South Korea that are used in the oil and gas industries. Longhi reminded attendees that the steel industry won its battle against China dumping of OCTG products in 2009 but lost growth potential during the period.
“The energy boom created a very significant opportunity, but the market share was captured by imports,” Longhi said. “The domestic suppliers never had the chance to compete on a level playing field. And here we are again, two and a half years later, having to fight the same battle.”
The anti-dumping cases should concern West Virginia coal makers, because domestic OCTG steel products are made using metallurgical coal, he said.
Government regulation, unclear tax codes and energy policies, and lack of guidance are holding back economic growth said Longhi.
“It’s a very complex situation that is basically being created by our own government.”
(Source: Charleston Daily Mail)

Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Mills

Cliffs talks DOE funding, blast furnace relining schedule
The future of two projects supported in part by funding through the Department of Energy remains uncertain.

Cleveland-Cliffs open to asset sales
Meanwhile, its Canadian operations have been hurt by the broader tariffs proposed by the United States.

As Q1 loss balloons, Cliffs pledges to cut costs, streamline operations
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. gushed red ink in the first quarter, and pledged to stem the bleeding by idling inefficient, “loss-making operations” and increasing focus on its core automotive business.

Cliffs plans to idle three mills, cut 950 jobs on ‘insufficient demand and pricing’
Cleveland-Cliffs plans to indefinitely idle its steel mill in Riverdale, Ill., as well as mills in Conshohocken, Pa., and Steelton, Pa. The Cleveland-based steelmaker said all three facilities would be idled on or around June 30. Approximately 950 jobs will be impacted, the company said.

CRU: Usiminas may reduce capex unless government strengthens protection
“The lack of effective measures to create fair competition, amid a surge in subsidized imports, is the main threat to the sustainability of Brazil’s steel industry and its value chain,” CEO Marcelo Chara said.