North America
All the latest headlines from NAFTA trading partners: the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Latest News
World Steel Production up 24% in November
22 December 2009 - World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association stood at an estimated 107.48 million tonnes in November 2009 — 5.2% lower than the previous month (October 2009) but 24.2% higher than November 2008.
Commerce Preliminarily Finds Dumping of PC Wire Strand from China
21 December 2009 - The Department of Commerce announced on December 18 its preliminary determination in the antidumping duty investigation on imports of prestressed concrete steel wire strand from P.R. China. Commerce preliminarily determined that Chinese producers/exporters have sold PC strand in the U.S. at 37.72 to193.55% less than normal value.
October Steel Shipments Up 5.3% from September
21 December 2009 - U.S. steel mills shipped 6,097,000 net tons for the month of October 2009, a 5.3% increase over September according to the latest report from AISI.
Future Steel Vehicle Methodology Wins SAE Innovation Competition
21 December 2009 - The Accelerated Concept to Product process, marketed by Engineering Technology Associates, Inc., has won the 2nd Annual SAE International Detroit Section/Massachusetts Institute of Technology Enterprise Forum Vehicle Innovation Competition.
Essar Steel Algoma Closes Senior Secured Note Offering
21 December 2009 - Essar Steel Algoma’s previously announced offering of US$400 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due 2015 has closed.
Allegheny Technologies Raises 4th Quarter Expectations
18 December 2009 - Allegheny Technologies Inc. is raising its earnings expectations for the fourth quarter 2009 earnings to the range of $0.20 to $0.25 per share.
Nucor Updates Fourth Quarter Guidance
17 December 2009 - Nucor updates its guidance for the fourth quarter ending December 31, saying that it now expects results to be breakeven to slightly positive.
Service Center Shipments Decline at Slower Rate in November
16 December 2009 - Despite declining shipments of steel and aluminum from U.S. and Canadian metals service centers in November, MSCI’s latest Metals Activity Report indicates there are signs that the market may be stabilizing.
Fitch Sees Modest Recovery for Global Steel Demand
16 December 2009 - Fitch Ratings expects to see demand for steel to recover from low levels at a modest pace over the next 12-18 months but not to reach peak levels in the medium term, according to its recently issued Worldwide Steel Outlook.
Cliffs Added to S&P 500 Index
15 December 2009 - Standard & Poor’s will add Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.’s shares to the S&P 500 Index effective December 18 after the market closes. Cliffs also will be added to the S&P 500 GICS Steel Sub-Industry index.
AMMA Expresses Concern over EPA Analysis of Climate Legislation
15 December 2009 - The American Materials Manufacturing Alliance has issued a letter to Senators Bayh (D-IN), Specter (D-PA), Brown (D-OH), McCaskill (D-MO), and Stabenow (D-MI) regarding the U.S. EPA’s analysis of the impact that H.R. 2454 will have on energy-intensive, trade-exposed industries.
Severstal Launches Campaign for Unified Approach to Marketplace
14 December 2009 - Severstal North America has launched a new initiative, ONE Severstal, designed to promote a unified approach by all of its U.S. facilities to the marketplace. The campaign reflects the company’s recently completed North American commercial reorientation.
Steel Industry a Leader in Energy Efficiency
14 December 2009 - The U.S. steel industry has reduced its energy intensity per ton of steel shipped by about 31% from 1990 to 2008, reports the American Iron and Steel Institute. This figure is down slightly from 33% in 2007 due to a large drop off in production starting in 4Q 2008.
Steel Dynamics Updates 4th Quarter Guidance
11 December 2009 - Steel Dynamics updates its fourth quarter 2009 earnings guidance to the range of $0.10 to $0.20 per diluted share.
AK Steel Comments on China’s Preliminary Ruling for Electrical Steel Duties
11 December 2009 - AK Steel responds to the imposition of provisional duties by China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on imported electrical steel products. Chairman, President, and CEO James L. Wainscott says the company is very disappointed by MOFCOM's preliminary findings.
TMK Ipsco Achieves ERCB Directive 010 Compliance
10 December 2009 - TMK Ipsco is now able to offer ERCB Directive 010, Appendix B compliant casing in Grades H40, J55, and L80 produced as "new" production supplied from either its welded and seamless mills in the U.S. or from TMK's seamless mills in Russia.
Nucor Board Increases Cash Dividend
10 December 2009 - Nucor’s board of directors increases the regular quarterly cash dividend on the company's common stock by 2.9% to $0.36 per share.
ThyssenKrupp Holds Jobs Fair in Mobile County
10 December 2009 - ThyssenKrupp Steel USA and ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA holds jobs fair in Mount Vernon, Ala.
AK Steel to Further Increase Carbon Steel Prices
09 December 2009 - AK Steel announces an additional $30 per ton increase to spot market prices for carbon steel products for all new orders accepted for shipment on January 1, 2010 and later.
YTD Stainless, Specialty Imports Down More than 50% through August
07 December 2009 - Total stainless imports reached 234,989tons through August 2009, a 56.8% decrease compared to YTD August 2008 according to the latest report from the SSINA. Total specialty imports reached 308,239 tons through the same period, a 55.4% decrease compared to YTD August 2008.
