"We actually have initial metal in the market and are getting very positive responses from our customers in terms of meeting their needs and the expectations from the quality perspective," ATI executive vice president Bob Wetherbee said during a call with analysts to discuss the company's fourth-quarter earnings. 

Announced late last year, the joint venture will import slabs from Tsingshan’s new integrated mill in Indonesia and ship it to ATI’s Hot olling and Processing Facility in Pennsylvania. There slabs will be re-rolled under a conversion agreement with ATI. 

From there, strip will be finished at ATI’s Direct Roll Anneal and Pickle (DRAP) line, which ATI is contributing to the joint venture. 

ATI idled the line in 2016, but has restarted it through the joint venture. 

Wetherbee said the joint venture, called Allegheny & Tsingshan Stainless, is working toward obtaining regulatory clearances and expects to close the deal this quarter. 

He said the joint venture plans to ramp up production during the first half of the year.