Market Segment
February 6, 2025
Written by Ethan Bernard
U.S. Steel has idled the “B” Battery at its Clairton Coke Works near Pittsburgh following a “release of excess pressure” inside a section of the battery on Feb. 5.
“The battery has been taken off-line and will remain off-line until a root cause can be determined and any necessary and appropriate repairs can be made,” a USS spokeswoman said in a statement to SMU.
Behlen Mfg. Co. announced the closure of its Behlen Building Systems manufacturing facility in Sarasota, Fla. The company cited high production costs in the Southeast US, higher material and freight costs, and its commitment to operating efficiently and remaining competitive. Behlen expects the closure to be completed by Dec. 18. A Florida WARN notification shows 55 employees will be affected. “This was a difficult decision, particularly because of the impact it will have on our employees in Sarasota,” said CEO Tom Boal in a statement. “We are grateful for the dedication, hard work, and contributions of our Sarasota team. While the decision to close a facility is never easy, we must continue making strategic decisions that strengthen our operations and position Behlen for long-term success.”
Alro Steel has opened a new, 245,000-square foot facility in Oviedo, Fla., a suburb of Orlando, Fla. The Jackson, Mich.-based service center said the new location would allow it to better serve the Orlando market. The company said the new facility will allow its original location in Orlando, established in 1982, to focus on plate processing. The Oviedo location “significantly increases Alro’s local inventory and processing capacity, providing customers with greater product availability, expanded processing options, and faster shipments,” Alro said in a press release posted earlier this week.
Nucor Corp. announced a $60 million investment to expand its Towers & Structures facility in Trinity, Ala., to increase production of steel poles and other structures for utility infrastructure. The Towers & Structures manufacturing facility, which began operating in September 2025, is adjacent to the Nucor Steel Decatur flat-rolled mill. The expansion will add production capacity, laydown space, and a dedicated galvanizing inspection area, the company said. "Utilities across the country are making significant investments to strengthen and modernize the nation's power grid," remarked Nucor Chair and CEO Leon Topalian. "By expanding our Trinity facility adjacent to our Decatur sheet mill, we can combine American-made steel with highly efficient manufacturing to better serve our utility customers and support their long-term infrastructure needs. “
Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) expects tight supply, lean inventories, and firm demand to support steel pricing and margins through the fourth quarter and into 2027, Chairman and outgoing CEO Mark Millett and incoming President and CEO Theresa Wagler said on the company’s third-quarter earnings call. SDI’s steel mills operated at 92% utilization in the third quarter, compared with an estimated 80% for the domestic industry.
Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) posted sharply higher third quarter profits on the back of higher steel prices, record steel shipments, and "historically low" import volumes. The Fort Wayne, Ind.-based steelmaker said it also benefited from low customer inventories, long mill lead times, and low scrap prices. It wasn’t just a story of US trade policy suppressing imports. Demand was strong across a range of end markets, among them energy, non-residential construction, and automotive, the company said.