WCI Steel, Inc. has entered into a long-term supply agreement with Sun Coke Co. that will provide access to a competitive source of domestic coke.

Sun Coke will supply coke to WCI Steel from its recently announced second coke manufacturing facility in Haverhill, Ohio. The 15-year contract, which starts in 2008, assures WCI Steel of approximately 40% of its coke supply requirements for its blast furnace operations.

WCI Steel Vice President of Business Development Thomas J. Gentile said that the agreement achieves the company's strategic objective of securing a long-term domestic supply of coke.

"We are pleased that this raw material sourcing issue has been resolved and firmly believe the new coke contract will strengthen our core operations," Gentile said.

Sun Coke, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sunoco, Inc., has announced plans to build a second coke manufacturing plant in Haverhill, Ohio, where WCI Steel's coke will be produced. Construction of the new plant is expected to begin later this quarter, with full production anticipated by late 2008.

A niche-oriented integrated producer of value-added, custom steel products, WCI Steel emphasizes customer and technical service. WCI Steel currently produces 185 grades of flat-rolled custom and commodity flat-rolled steel at its Warren, Ohio, facility, focusing on a wide range of custom flat- rolled steel products, including high carbon, alloy, ultra high strength and heavy-gauge galvanized steel and on developing closer, more responsive relationships with customers. Major customers include steel converters, processors, service centers, construction product companies and, to a lesser extent, automobile manufacturers.