"The best way to sum up 2018 is this – it was a record year for Nucor. We posted record earnings per share and record revenue, and we shipped a record amount of steel," said Nucor chairman and chief executive John Ferriola. 

For the year, the company recorded net sales of US$25.1 billion, up from US$20.3 billion in the prior year. Profits rose to US$2.36 billion, or US$7.42 per diluted share. In 2017, the company made US$1.32 billion, or US$4.10 per diluted share. 

Meanwhile, mill shipments rose to 24.9 million tons, up 5% from 23.6 million tons in the prior year.