• Skip to main content

    Government/Policy

    June 17, 2025

    Mexico shuts down steel importer amid trade talks

    Written by Stephanie Ritenbaugh

    Mexico’s Ministry of Economy and Finance suspended export programs for LAU Industries of Mexico, a US-based steel importer, after alleging the manufacturer took advantage of a government program to promote trade.

    The government shut down two plants and warehouses operated by US-based LAU Industries, formerly Ruskin of Mexico SAPI, according to an announcement by the ministry. The move was made while the country negotiates with Washington for an exemption to the 50% tariff on steel imports into the US.

    Stephanie Ritenbaugh

    Stephanie Ritenbaugh is a reporter for Steel Market Update. She is an experienced business journalist, holding a variety of positions for trade publications and newspapers, including covering shale development for Gas Business Briefing/Platts and for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. She can be reached at stephanie.ritenbaugh@crugroup.com or +1 724-759-7868

    Read more from Stephanie Ritenbaugh

    Latest in Government/Policy

    Leibowitz: US steel prices skyrocket above world prices. Which are right?

    Steel markets in the United States now feature supply shortages. Spot tons are well-nigh unavailable, and even contract tons are scarce. Based on the available statistics, the US market for flat-rolled products is seriously constrained. The US economy is still the strongest in the world, and manufacturing output remains vigorous. But the available supply is tight. The reason is fairly obvious. US domestic supply has increased a bit. Meanwhile, imports have fallen significantly.

    Shipbuilding to return to Sparrows Point

    Shipbuilding is set to return to Sparrows Point, Md. President Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced plans to develop a new shipbuilding facility at the site called Arsenal-2. The 2-million-square-foot facility sitting on an 187-acre site will manufacture critical components for the Virginia-class submarine. Sparrows Point is the former site of Bethlehem Steel, once the world's largest steel mill, and the Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard.