March 23, 2006 — AK Steel has been awarded Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America's highest supplier recognition in two categories for 2005 performance.

"Toyota views our suppliers as business partners and together, we have improved our efforts in quality, delivery and value," said Osamu "Simon" Nagata, Vice President of Purchasing for TMMNA, located in Erlanger, Ky. "Thanks to their outstanding service, Toyota has been a tremendous success in North America."

The dual awards — Superior in both Quality and Delivery — mark the twelfth consecutive year that AK Steel has received two awards. This is also the eighth consecutive year that AK Steel has earned Toyota's highest level of supplier recognition, Superior, in both the quality and delivery categories.

"AK Steel is once again honored to receive such prestigious recognition from Toyota for our quality and delivery performance," said James L. Wainscott, Chairman, President and CEO of AK Steel. "We greatly appreciate being part of Toyota's continued growth that has given AK Steel the opportunity to earn dual supplier awards for twelve years in a row."

AK Steel has surpassed an aggregate of more than 500 consecutive months with 100% on-time delivery performance to the Toyota and Lexus plants it serves in Kentucky, Indiana, California and Ontario, Canada. AK Steel supplies steel products to Toyota and Lexus plants located in North America for such popular models as the Camry, Avalon, Sienna, Sequoia, Corolla, Tundra, Tacoma, Solara, Matrix and Lexus RX 330.

Headquartered in Middletown, Ohio, AK Steel produces flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steel products for automotive, appliance, construction and manufacturing markets, as well as tubular steel products.