Steel Products
ArcelorMittal Upgrades Canada Rod and Bar Facilities
Written by Sandy Williams
January 25, 2018
ArcelorMittal announced that it will invest CAD $70 million (U.S. $56.8 million) in its Contrecoeur, Quebec, wire rod and bar facilities.
Two reheating furnaces will be replaced at Contrecoeur-East wire rod mill and its Contrecoeur-West steel bar mill. The furnaces will increase the company’s rolling capacity by 100,000 metric tons with greater efficiency and reduced gas emissions. The projects are estimated at CAD $30 million and CAD $33 million, respectively, and will be completed by the first half of 2020.
At the same time, CAD $6 million will be allocated to replace the dust collector at the Contrecoeur-West steelworks. Work is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.
The investments were made possible in part by a government electricity rebate program intended for companies engaging in major investment projects in the manufacturing sector, as well as in the transformation of natural resources. The ArcelorMittal rebate is estimated at CAD $25 million until 2020.
{loadposition reserved_message}
“We are renewing ArcelorMittal’s commitment to Quebec,” said François Perras, CEO of ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada. “Our choice to invest in the acquisition of high-performance equipment will help us accelerate our move towards high-value-added steel production, particularly for the automotive and construction industries. ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada will also be in a better position to meet its customers’ needs and face international competition. Our workers’ ongoing efforts and government support have been instrumental in this investment decision. With this modernization plan, we will continue to play a major role in our communities by supporting more than 1,700 direct jobs and converting our natural resources right here in Quebec.”

Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Products

Final Thoughts
The difference: The spat with Turkey was a big deal for steel. This time, the 50% reciprocal tariff for Brazil – if it goes into effect as threatened on Aug.1 – hits everything from coffee and to pig iron. It seems almost custom-built to inflict as much pain as possible on Brazil.

CRU: US rebar and wire rod prices rise alongside S232 increase
CRU Senior Steel Analyst Alexandra Anderson discusses current market and pricing dynamics for long steel products in the US.
CRU: Excessive global supply could hit rebar mill investments in US
Following the onset of the war in Ukraine in March 2022, concerns about import availability and expectations of rising demand from President Biden’s Infrastructure Bill pushed US rebar prices to record highs. In response, a flurry of new mills and capacity expansions were announced to meet the rise in demand from growth in the construction […]

Steel buyer spirits tempered by soft spot market conditions
Steel sheet buyers report feeling bogged down by the ongoing stresses of stagnant demand, news fatigue, tariff negotiations or implementation timelines, and persistent macroeconomic uncertainty.

CRU: US stainless prices to rise on expanded S232 tariffs
Stainless prices in the US market will rise, following price increases by major US producers. Our base case scenario incorporates higher US prices in the near term, despite the initial negative reaction by the market. US stainless prices will go up in 2025 H2 and will stay elevated in 2026 as tariffs on stainless […]