Steel Summit: Reliance CEO eyes potential M&A in Mexico, highlights tech plans

Tariffs were a recurring topic in multiple conversations at this year’s conference in Atlanta. A notable part of those conversations sometimes included the state of North America’s intercontinental relationships. Notably, what will happen between the US, Mexico, and Canada regarding steel and aluminum tariffs, as well as how the USMCA (US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, negotiated and signed by US President Donald Trump, then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and then Mexican President Peña Nieto on November 30, 2018) will be addressed in 2026.  

President Trump’s decision to put tariffs on steel from its neighbors upon his return to office has created some confusion among steel and aluminum market participants. 

During her Summit Fireside Chat, Lewis said she was surprised that a concrete agreement between the US and Mexico had not been settled by now.

Market requests that Reliance expand its footprint into the USA’s southern neighbor are becoming more frequent and louder, Lewis told the audience. The executive noted that Reliance’s acquisition of Acero Prime, with facilities in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, has been successful for serving market needs below the border. She noted that expanding further into Latin America is not currently a focus for Reliance. 

“We have Acero, a really good company, there in Mexico. We have a couple of other companies there. We have a lot of customers asking us to have a bigger presence in Mexico, and so we are open and have looked at opportunities down there, whether we do it through acquisition or greenfield,” Lewis said, adding, “So we are interested in that market again, the right products with the right companies. As for South America, we have not gone there.” 

Technology improving outcomes  

As this year’s conference explored the rapidly expanding role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the industry, Lewis explained how Reliance is leveraging technological innovations. She emphasized the company remains focused on creating the safest, most efficient, high-quality outcomes for its customers. Just as acquisitions carry that mission forward, the use of cutting-edge technology does as well, she said.

Reliance is taking a cautious and studious approach to the latest forms of AI adoption. The CEO pointed out that AI has been embedded in multiple aspects of industry technology for years. However, the current rush to find applications for large language models is not an immediate priority.

“When I talk to our technology people, they point out that we use a lot of tools every day that have used AI for years. Generative AI and that next phase, and what’s that really going to look like within our company? I’m not sure yet,” Lewis said. 

She added, “Some of our companies are piloting some things. We’re really trying to approach AI from the ground up, which is how we approach most things. We want input from the people closest to the task, to the jobs about how we could potentially use AI to make jobs easier, more efficient, hopefully safer.” 

Lewis’s market takeaways 

Lewis rounded out her 2025 fireside chat with assurances that Reliance is seeing promising demand in the market.  

“Demand overall is relatively healthy. I tell you, when I talk to the people running our businesses, they’re excited. We don’t know when it is, but as soon as we get some of this uncertainty behind us, we see a lot of opportunity out there,” she said.  

Reliance is seeing promise in data center construction and large electrification projects, the exec noted. She pointed to renewed industries such as shipbuilding as an area she feels offers promise for the industry.