Steel News

As China’s Economy Reopens, Steel Inventories Begin to Fall

30 April 2020 - China has started to work down its record steel inventories that built up during the country’s coronavirus lockdown, according to the World Steel Association.

CISA Expects Chinese Steel Demand to Pick Back Up

23 April 2020 - The China Iron and Steel Association is predicting a “remarkable” second-quarter rebound as industry ramps back up following the country’s coronavirus lockdown, reports Asia Times Financial.

SDI: No Changes Yet to Texas Mill Construction Schedule

21 April 2020 - Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) said it continues to aim for a mid-2021 start-up of its new Texas sheet mill, but will re-evaluate that goal as the year progresses.

Ohio Blast Furnace Being Taken Off-Line

09 April 2020 - ArcelorMittal is preparing to idle the No. 6 blast furnace at its Cleveland, Ohio, USA, facility, reports The Times newspaper of northwest Indiana.

Nippon Steel Adjusts Production

08 April 2020 - Nippon Steel Corp. will bank two blast furnaces later this month and curtail coke production as it adjusts to lower demand, the company has said.

BlueScope Pushes Back Ohio Expansion Project

07 April 2020 - BlueScope Steel Ltd. is delaying the expansion of its North Star sheet mill as it looks to preserve cash during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Weak Energy Demand Forces EVRAZ to Close Pipe Mill

07 April 2020 - With energy pipeline projects falling to the wayside, EVRAZ North America is idling its spiral-weld pipe mill in Oregon, reports The Oregonian newspaper.

Honda, FCA Extend Plant Shutdowns

07 April 2020 - Honda and Fiat Chrysler Automobile will keep their U.S. and Canadian plants closed through the remainder of April, reports trade publication WardsAuto.

Infrastructure Ought to Be Part of COVID-19 Relief, Steel Groups Say

01 April 2020 - Five U.S. steel trade organizations have urged Congress to provide for public infrastructure investments in the next phase of COVID-19 economic stimulus.

Ford Delays Plant Restarts

01 April 2020 - Ford Motor Co. has pushed back the planned restart of North American plants, saying that it is taking the step to help better protect workers.

Indian Steel Producers Face Lower Demand

31 March 2020 - The COVID-19 pandemic and national lockdown will weaken India steel demand in India and could lead to an inventory build-up that pressures prices downward, reports the IANS news service.

AK Steel Banks Michigan Blast Furnace

31 March 2020 - With the COVID-19 pandemic having brought North American auto production to a halt, AK Steel is temporarily idling its Dearborn Works in Michigan, reports Fastmarkets AMM.

An Aging Population, Other Market Challenges Force JFE Steel to Resize

30 March 2020 - JFE Steel will permanently close a blast furnace in southeastern Japan as part of a plan to consolidate operations and refocus on key products, the company has announced.

SSAB Begins Layoff Negotiations

30 March 2020 - SSAB is preparing to initiate a round of temporary layoffs at its Finnish operations, citing weak demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. Imports Fall to 10-Year Low in February

26 March 2020 - U.S. steel imports fell slightly more than 38% in February 2020, dropping to a level not seen since 2009, reports commodities news and pricing service Argus.

Indian Steel Producers Set COVID-19 Curtailments

26 March 2020 - JSW Steel, Tata Steel and ArcelorMittal are all pulling back on production despite exceptions that allow them to run during the country’s national COVID-19 lockdown.

thyssenkrupp, Labor Union Agree to Long-Term Strategic Plan, Coronavirus Curtailments

25 March 2020 - thyssenkrupp and the IG Metall labor union have come to terms on a plan in which the company will shed 3,000 steel jobs over six years, but will invest EUR800 million in its plants during that time, thyssenkrupp has announced.

voestalpine Idles Blast Furnace; Closes Global Sites

25 March 2020 - voestalpine has closed facilities in Europe, South America and the U.S. and will temporarily reduce hours at other European sites as global economy slows.

North American Auto Plants Postpone Restarts

25 March 2020 - Ford, Toyota and Hyundai are extending coronavirus shutdowns of their North American plants, and Kia has announced its intention to temporarily stop production in the U.S., reports WardsAuto.

U. S. Steel Idles Ohio, Texas Tube Mills

24 March 2020 - United States Steel Corporation has informed workers that will indefinitely idle its seamless tube plant in Lorain, Ohio, as well as its Lone Star tubular operations in Texas, reports The (Elyria, Ohio) Chronicle-Telegram newspaper.