Steel Mills

Layoffs to begin Christmas Week at AK Steel Ashland Works
Written by Sandy Williams
December 15, 2015
AK Steel plans to begin layoffs at its plant in Ashland, Ky., during the week of Christmas.
Scott Conley, President of USW Local 1865 said 615 to 620 people will be laid off and everyone should be out of the hot end of the plant by December 31.
AK Steel executives blame the layoffs on unfairly traded imports of carbon steel that have reduced order rates, production rates, shipment volumes and selling prices. Production will resume when market conditions improve, but that could be as long as six months.
Ashland Works employs 940 workers and not all will be laid off. In its initial announcement of the production cuts, AK Steel said it did not intend to idle the hot-dip galvanizing line that services automotive customers.

Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Mills

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.

USS swings to loss in first quarter on N. American flat-rolled segment woes
U.S. Steel CEO praised the company’s resilience, “despite the seasonally low results driven by annual mining logistics constraints in our North American Flat-Rolled segment and lagging spot prices.”

Nucor gives updates on new capacity coming online
Nucor said several of its capital projects will start operations within the next year and provided an update on them.

Algoma swings to loss on ‘market challenges’ and ‘tariff uncertainties’
Canada’s Algoma Steel swung to a loss in the first quarter amid "market challenges," and the company now expects first steel production from its first EAF in the second quarter.

Ternium raises budget for Mexico project
The steelmaker now expects the new steel slab mill in Pesquería will begin operations by Q4’26.