Contributor: Laura Miller

Laura Miller

Laura Miller is a reporter and editor for Steel Market Update. Since 2007, she has held various editorial and marketing positions with steel industry publications, associations, and mills. In 2021, after a five-year hiatus working across other industries, she returned to steel trade journalism, joining SMU in 2022. She is a member of the Association of Women in the Metal Industries and a past-president of the AWMI Pittsburgh Chapter. She holds a BA in Latin American Studies from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She can be reached at laura@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7869.

Mill Steel Promotes Craddick to VP of Sales

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based carbon flat-rolled steel distributor Mill Steel Co. has appointed Kip Craddick as its new VP of sales.

Ternium Bullish on Mexico and Increased Stake in Usiminas

Latin American flat-rolled steelmaker Ternium is seeing strong demand in Mexico, its main market. With its new mill in Pesquería, Mexico, up and running, more lines there set to come online, and the company now holding an increased stake in Brazilian mining and steel company Usiminas, Luxembourg-based Ternium is optimistic about the future direction of the company.

Auto Alliance Opposes a Potential USS-Cliffs Merger

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation (AAI), the association representing auto manufacturers making most vehicles sold in the US, has voiced its opposition to the potential acquisition of U.S. Steel by Cleveland-Cliffs.

Imports Fall in September, But Flat Rolled at Three-Month High

The decline in imports from August to September was more pronounced than license applications suggested earlier this month.

Ryerson Expects Slowing Sales, Shipments To Continue Into Q4

Ryerson saw lower sales and shipments in the third quarter and is anticipating further declines in the last quarter of the year.

USS-UPI Operations To Be Idled by Year's End

It’s official: U.S. Steel is idling its UPI operations in Pittsburg, Calif., by year’s end.

St. Lawrence Seaway Reopening After Tentative Labor Pact Is Reached

The St. Lawrence Seaway is reopening after a tentative agreement has been reached between striking Unifor members and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. (SLSMC).

U.S. Steel Talks Price Hike, Investments; Says Little on Sales Process

U.S. Steel’s third-quarter earnings call with analysts on Friday, Oct. 27, was packed full of insight into the Pittsburgh-based steelmaker’s current state of affairs.

Reliance Seeing Healthy Demand, Limited Impact from UAW Strike

Reliance Steel & Aluminum is anticipating overall demand to remain healthy through year’s end despite some weakening in some sectors and normal seasonality.

SMU Survey: Mill Lead Times Push Out Further

Mill lead times for flat-rolled products pushed out this week once again across the board.

Unifor Strike Shuts Down St. Lawrence Seaway

The St. Lawrence Seaway is shut down after members of Canada’s Unifor union went on strike against the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. (SLSMC) this past weekend.

UAW Counteroffer to Ford Could Soon Lead to Deal: Report

The United Auto Workers (UAW) union and Ford could soon reach a tentative labor deal.

Ranger Steel Acquires Heavy Plate Distributor Nance

Ranger Steel Services has acquired the steel operations of Detroit-based heavy plate distributor Nance.

Cliffs Execs Quiet on Potential U.S. Steel Deal

On the company’s third-quarter earnings call with analysts on Tuesday, Oct. 24, Cleveland-Cliffs executives were careful not to disclose anything about their talks with U.S. Steel on a potential acquisition.

Goncalves Bullish on Auto Despite UAW Strike, Bearish on Service Centers

Cleveland-Cliffs says it is taking advantage of higher demand from the automotive sector – its biggest end-use market – this year.

Cliffs Posts Higher Q3 Profits, Solid Shipments Despite UAW Strike

Cleveland-Cliffs posted solid results for the third quarter, with strong steel shipments, particularly to the automotive industry, the steelmaker said in its Q3 earnings report on Monday, Oct. 23.

AM/NS Calvert, Stelco Follow Major Sheet Mills Higher

ArcelorMittal and Stelco joined last week’s move by domestic mills to push sheet prices higher.

South Korea, Brazil Won’t Max Out HRC Quotas This Year

South Korea and Brazil will not be maxing out their allowable quotas on hot-rolled sheet shipments to the US for 2023, according to government data analyzed by SMU.

UAW Strike Hits Stellantis’ Largest Plant

The United Auto Workers (UAW) union expanded its strike on Monday morning, hitting Stellantis’ largest plant.

JSW Steel USA Reports Improved Sales, Earnings

India's JSW Steel said lower steel prices and adverse market conditions affected the performance of its US operations in its fiscal 2024 second quarter ended September 30. Still, the company posted improved results compared to the same quarter last year.

Nucor Mulls New Rebar Micro Mill for Pacific Northwest

Nucor Corp. announced it is considering installing a new rebar micro mill in the Pacific Northwest.

SDI Doesn’t Rule Out Inorganic Growth M&A

On its third-quarter earnings conference call on Thursday, Oct. 19, Steel Dynamics Inc. executives did not rule out the possibility of ‘inorganic growth’ opportunities.

SDI To Commission Four Value-Add Lines Before End of Q1’24

Steel Dynamics Inc. provided an update on the four new coating lines it is adding to its Heartland flat rolled processing mill and Sinton sheet mill on its third-quarter earnings conference call with analysts on Thursday, Oct. 19.

DOE Selects Seven Hydrogen Hub Projects to Receive $7B in Funding

The US Department of Energy announced seven projects that will receive $7 billion in funding to establish regional hydrogen hubs across the country.

James Bouchard To Retire as Esmark CEO

After more than 40 years in the steel industry, James Bouchard announced he will be retiring as CEO of Esmark Inc., effective Nov. 23.

Worldsteel Elects Nucor’s Topalian as New Chairman

Nucor’s President and CEO Leon Topalian has been named the new chairman of the World Steel Association (worldsteel).

Unifor Members Ratify New Labor Deal with GM Canada

Unifor members in Canada have ratified a new three-year labor agreement with General Motors

Rig Count Inches Up in US, Rebounds in Canada

The latest data from oilfield services provider Baker Hughes shows the number of active rotary rigs in the US and Canada bounced back during the week ended Friday, Oct. 13.

Commerce Updates AD/CVDs on Korean Cold Rolled

The US Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) is updating the antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) on cold-rolled steel imports from South Korea.

UAW Announces New Phase of Strike Against 'Big Three' Automakers

The United Auto Workers (UAW) union announced a new phase in its ongoing stand-up strike against the Big Three Detroit-area automakers on Friday.