Canada
January 6, 2022
Written by David Schollaert
Stelco Holdings Inc. said its fourth-quarter steel shipments were negatively impacted by production challenges and unplanned outages.
The Hamilton, Ontario-based steelmaker shipped roughly 625,000 net tons of steel in the fourth quarter of 2021, below prior guidance of 675,000 to 680,000 net tons.
The Canadian government has reportedly given Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. five days to respond to a letter from Canadian Industry Minister Mélanie Joly about the Stelco layoffs or face legal action.
SMU’s latest Flat-Rolled Steel Survey points to largely stable demand, but foreign steel orders have softened since the previous survey, and service centers continue to report stronger activity than manufacturers.
Members of the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity (GFSEC) met in Wisconsin last week and unveiled an updated plan to combat market-distorting excess capacity. The Milwaukee Framework adds color to the 2017 “Berlin Principles.” It is also a positive step in the ongoing battle against global steel market distortions. However, the Framework is only a guidepost. It must be implemented correctly to make an impact as new problems loom.
The latest tally of active drilling rigs increased in Canada while slightly easing in the US this week, according to oil and gas rig count data published by Baker Hughes.
Algoma Steel Group Inc. expects the first heat from its second electric-arc furnace (EAF) in the coming days, even as it forecasts a quarterly EBITDA loss and a 20% decline in shipments.