Steel Mills
US Steel Blames Imports for Temp Idling of Gary Works Tin Line
Written by Michael Cowden
September 6, 2022
US Steel has temporarily idled the No. 5 tin line at its Gary Works in northwest Indiana.
The Pittsburgh-based steelmaker indicated that the move was necessary because of weaker demand and increased import volumes.
“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
Michael Cowden
Read more from Michael CowdenLatest in Steel Mills
August US mill shipments slip but still higher than last year
The American Iron and Steel Institute reported a decline in the monthly shipments of US mills from July to August.
TransPod, Algoma, Supreme Steel linkup anchors Canadian steel in high-speed transit build
The three Canadian companies have announced a strategic partnership to support the development of an ultra-high-speed transit line from Edmonton to Calgary.
Metallus, USW agree to tentative four-year labor deal
Metallus and the United Steelworkers (USW) have agreed to a tentative four-year labor contract.
ArcelorMittal Dofasco resumes cokemaking after emergency maintenance
The Canadian steelmaker reported on Sept. 30 that “urgent maintenance” was needed in its coke plant off-gas systems. The work required coke oven gas from the No. 2 coke plant to be flared for most of that week.
AISI: Raw steel production ticks back down
US raw steel output declined last week after increasing the week prior, according to the latest data from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Output has see-sawed from week to week since mid-August. Still, it has remained historically strong over the past four months and has held near multi-year highs since June. Domestic mills […]