US Steel Blames Imports for Temp Idling of Gary Works Tin Line

“The company’s other tin operations continue to operate in line with customer demand. We expect to bring number 5 tin line back online when market conditions allow,” a company spokeswoman said in an email to Steel Market Update on Tuesday, Sept. 6.

There were no job losses stemming from the idling because employees impacted by it were moved to other areas of Gary Works, she added.

Gary Works is US Steel’s largest steelmaking complex. It has raw steel capacity of 7.5 million tons per year. The plant makes hot-rolled, cold-rolled and coated sheet – including tin mill products.

Tin products are used the food and beverage container industry as well as in aerosol cans and in paint cans and pails, according to the company’s website.

As for imports, the US brought in 797,351.6 metric tons of tin plate in 2021, up 14.3% from 697,327.4 tons in 2020 and up 16.5% from 685,791.5 tons in 2019, according to Commerce Department figures.

Imported tin mill products now account for more than 60% of estimated domestic market consumption, the US Steel spokeswoman said.

“This temporary idling at Gary is proof that increases in imported steel remain a very real threat to the livelihoods of the workforce at American steel producers,” she added.

By Michael Cowden, Michael@SteelMarketUpdate.com