Topalian: Steel Has the Capacity to Go Big with Biden on Infrastructure

The U.S. steel industry has enough capacity to meet demand even if the Biden administration passes a big infrastructure bill, said the top executive of the nation’s biggest steelmaker.

The United States “desperately needs” an infrastructure package worth “more than $1 trillion,” and Nucor hopes such a bill will be passed in the early days of the new administration, Nucor President and Chief Executive Officer Leon Topalian said during a conference call this week hosted by the American Society for Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Michael Cowden

Michael Cowden is editor-in-chief for Steel Market Update. Cowden has covered the steel industry since 2007. He specializes in flat-rolled steel but has also reported on steel long products, steel pipe and tube, and aluminum. Before joining SMU, Cowden held reporting jobs at Fastmarkets AMM in Chicago, the Associated Press in Pittsburgh, and the Cambodia Daily in Phnom Penh. He has also worked as a copy editor and in marketing at the University of Chicago Press. Cowden has a BA in English from the University of Chicago and an MSJ journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Contact him at michael@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7872.