Steel Mills

BlueScope Predicts Record Profits on Sharply Higher U.S. HRC Prices

Written by Michael Cowden

July 27, 2021

BlueScope expects to the join the parade of steelmakers reporting record earnings – thanks in large part to a strong showing from its U.S. operations.

The Australian steelmaker anticipates reporting earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of approximately Australian $1.19 billion ($876.3 million) in the second half of its fiscal year – a new record.

northstar bluescopeThat figure is also up from prior guidance of A$1 billion ($736.4 millIion) to A$1.08 billion ($795.3 million), the company said in preliminary financial results released on Tuesday, July 27.

“The business has gone from strength to strength in the second half of FY2021, and all operating segments have delivered significantly better results than FY2020,” BlueScope Managing Director and CEO Mark Vassella said in a statement.

All told BlueScope forecasts earnings for its 2021 financial year to be approximately A$1.72 billion ($1.27 billion).

“While the COVID challenge remains, our performance is a great tribute to the professionalism and dedication of the entire BlueScope team who have operated with great resilience through the pandemic,” Vassella said.

One big reason for the record profits: A longer-than-expected bull run in U.S. hot-rolled coil prices that has benefitted the company’s North Star BlueScope electric arc furnace (EAF) steel mill in Delta, Ohio.

North Star BlueScope operated at 100% capacity utilization and notched record preliminary EBIT of A$600 million ($441.8 million) in the second half of the fiscal year, its parent company said.

The Delta mill makes only hot-rolled coil – not valued added cold-rolled or coated products – and is an important supplier to the Midwest.

BlueScope’s coated business in North America, focused primarily on the West Coast, has also been strong.

Hot-rolled prices stand at $1,860 per ton ($93 per cwt), up nearly 89% from $985 per ton at the beginning of the year and up more than fourfold from $450 per ton a year ago, according to SMU’s interactive pricing tool.

SMU’s galvanized base price is at $2,080 per ton ($104 per cwt), up nearly 92% from $1,085 per ton on Jan. 1 and more than triple $630 per ton a year ago.

BlueScope typically releases preliminary results ahead of final earnings data. The final numbers are slated to be released on Monday, Aug. 16, the company said.

The company works off a fiscal year that ends on June 30. So it’s 2021 fiscal year (aka FY2021) refers to the 12 months ending on June 30, 2021.

By Michael Cowden, Michael@SteelMarketUpdate.com

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.

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