AK Steel reported a net loss of $60.9 million for the third quarter of 2012, compared to a net loss of $3.5 million for the third quarter of 2011. The 2012 third quarter results include a non-cash income tax expense of $33.1 million as a result of the change in a tax valuation allowance. The company reported a loss before income taxes of $28.7 million for the third quarter of 2012, compared to a loss before income taxes of $6.8 million for the third quarter of 2011.

Net sales for the third quarter of 2012 were $1,463.5 million on shipments of 1,363,500 tons, compared to net sales of $1,585.8 million on shipments of 1,368,800 tons for the year-ago third quarter and net sales of $1,538.4 million on shipments of 1,335,800 tons for the second quarter of 2012. The company said its average selling price for the third quarter of 2012 was $1,073 per ton, a 7% decrease from both the second quarter of 2012 and the third quarter of 2011. The lower average selling price for the third quarter 2012 compared to the second quarter of 2012 was primarily due to lower spot market prices for carbon steel products, reduced raw material surcharges and a lower value-added product mix.

The company reported adjusted EBITDA of $27.2 million, or $20 per ton, for the third quarter of 2012 compared to adjusted EBITDA of $59.3 million, or $43 per ton, for the third quarter of 2011. The adjusted EBITDA excludes EBITDA of noncontrolling interests as shown in the financial table included with this news release. Included in the results for the third quarter of 2012 were planned major maintenance outage costs of $28.5 million, primarily for outages at the company’s Ashland Works blast furnace and Middletown Works hot strip mill, compared to outage costs of $1.7 million for the third quarter of 2011. The 2012 third quarter results include a LIFO credit of $27.5 million, compared to a LIFO credit of $9.5 million in the third quarter of 2011 and a LIFO credit of $18.3 million for the second quarter of 2012.

"Challenging domestic and global economic conditions continue to weigh on shipping volumes and prices," said James L. Wainscott, Chairman, President and CEO of AK Steel. "Additionally, while we expect to enjoy lower raw material costs in the future, we are still working through some higher cost raw material inventories."

The company ended the third quarter of 2012 with $47.1 million of cash and cash equivalents and $557.8 million of availability under the company’s revolving credit facility, for total liquidity of $604.9 million.

Nine-Month Results
For the first nine months of 2012, the company reported a net loss of $796.9 million, or $7.21 per diluted share, which includes income tax expense of $767.3 million, almost entirely due to a non-cash change in a tax valuation allowance. For the corresponding 2011 period, the company reported net income of $38.3 million, or $0.35 per diluted share.

The company reported a loss before income taxes of $9.7 million for the first nine months of 2012, compared to income before income taxes of $64.4 million for the first nine months of 2011.

Net sales for the first nine months of 2012 were $4,510.6 million compared to $4,958.8 million for the first nine months of 2011. Shipments for the first nine months of 2012 were 4,025,200 tons compared to 4,288,900 tons for the first nine months of 2011.

The company reported adjusted EBITDA of $164.4 million, or $41 per ton, for the first nine months of 2012, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $253.6 million, or $59 per ton, for the same period of 2011. Earnings for the first nine months of 2012 were negatively impacted by the decrease in sales along with higher coke costs, which were partially offset by decreases in costs for carbon scrap and energy.

Fourth Quarter 2012 Outlook
Consistent with its current practice, the company said that it will not provide detailed guidance for its fourth quarter results at this time. The company said that it intends to provide such detailed fourth quarter guidance later during the quarter. However, in advance of that guidance, the company noted that, based on current conditions, it expects to incur a net loss for the fourth quarter of 2012. The company notes that this anticipated net loss includes a non-cash tax expense for the fourth quarter as a result of an anticipated change in its tax valuation allowance, which the company expects to incur regardless of its fourth quarter pre-tax financial results.