The amount is 2.4% more, or about 500,000 additional tons, than previously forecast.

“The steel market in United States is in great shape,” chairman and chief executive Lourenco Goncalves told analysts during the company’s second-quarter earnings call.

“Every single subsector is showing year-over-year growth, in some cases substantial growth. The actions taken by the Trump administration, mainly tax reform, have brought a massive positive impact to the economy in general and to the steel business, in particular. Even without Section 232, the domestic steel market would be doing well,” he said.

The company saw its second-quarter profits soar to US$165.1 million, up from US$31.8 million in the same quarter last year. Iron ore sales rose 61% to US$672 million, reflecting both higher prices and greater volumes.