Steel News

Mechel Announces Extension of Bridge Loan

27 May 2009 - Mechel OAO obtains a two-month extension of its bridge loan taken to finance the acquisition of Oriel Resources (Great Britain).

Siemens Commissions New Plate Mill for Wuyang Iron and Steel

27 May 2009 - Siemens VAI Metals Technologies commissions a new 4100-millimeter plate mill for Wuyang Iron and Steel in just ten days.

NLMK Implements New Environmental Project

27 May 2009 - Novolipetsk Steel has begun to revamp the lime rotary kiln dedusting systems in its refractory shop.

Allegheny Technologies Announces Proposed Notes Offerings

27 May 2009 - Allegheny Technologies announces plans to offer $650 million of new debt with proceeds going toward the purchase of outstanding 8.375% Notes due 2011 as well as contributions to the company’s pension plan.

OSHA Cites JSW Steel for Potential Safety and Health Hazards at Baytown Facility

27 May 2009 - OSHA announces $146,500 in proposed penalties against JSW Steel (USA) for the alleged failure to protect its employees from potential safety and health hazards at the company’s Baytown, Texas, facility.

USW Applauds Trade Commission Vote on OCTG Imports from China

26 May 2009 - The United Steelworkers calls the decision to proceed with the trade case investigation of OCTG imports from China ‘an urgent step for the thousands of laid-off workers at idled pipe production facilities of seven domestic companies’.

Siemens to Modernize Baosteel EAF with RCB System

26 May 2009 - Siemens VAI Metals Technologies will equip an electric arc furnace in Baosteel’s Shanghai factory with a Refining Combined Burner system.

ITC to Continue Cases on Oil Country Tubular Goods from China

26 May 2009 - The U.S. ITC finds reasonable indication of threatened material injury due to imports of oil country tubular goods from China that are allegedly subsidized and sold in the U.S. at less than fair value, paving the way for the U.S. Department of Commerce to continue its countervailing duty and antidumping investigations on these products.

ArcelorMittal Ostrava Plants 1111 Trees in the Ostrava Region

26 May 2009 - ArcelorMittal Ostrava has planted 1111 trees in the Ostrava region, delivering on its promise to plant trees in return for the plastic cups collected during last year’s ‘Colours of Ostrava’ festival.

BlueScope Plans Restart of Western Port Pickle Line

26 May 2009 - BlueScope Steel reports on plans to repair damage from the recent fire at its Western Port Pickle Line facility, which was limited primarily to four pickle tanks and the building’s roof.

Venezuela Looks to Nationalize Tenaris Subsidiaries

22 May 2009 - Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez announces the decision to nationalize Tenaris SA’s majority-owned subsidiaries Tavsa, Matesi, and Comsigua.

Workers Go on Strike at Gerdau Ameristeel Cambridge

22 May 2009 - Nearly 200 United Steelworkers are now on strike after rejecting Gerdau Ameristeel’s final offer for a new collective agreement at the company’s Cambridge, Ont., plant.

ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih Upgrades Gas and Dust Treatment Facilities

22 May 2009 - ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih is starting up a newly reconstructed dust and gas treatment process for the treatment of dust and gas from the plant’s electric arc furnaces and forging plant.

Evraz Group Appoints Chairman and CEO of Evraz Vitkovice Steel

22 May 2009 - Evraz Group announced an appointment of Zbynek Kvapik as Chairman and CEO of Evraz Vitkovice Steel, Evraz’s subsidiary in Czech Republic.

Metals USA Announces Retirement of General Counsel

21 May 2009 - Metals USA Holdings announces the retirement of John A. Hageman, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, effective May 14, 2009.

AIS to Implement SteelPlanner for Erdemir Facilities

21 May 2009 - AIS and its local partner Siemens Turkey will implement the SteelPlanner solution covering sales, production planning, and scheduling at both of Erdemir’s operating facilities in Turkey.

Lightweight Steel Technologies Can Help Automakers Achieve Fuel and Emissions Standards

21 May 2009 - Members of AISI’s Steel Market Development Institute are accelerating their efforts to provide automakers with new advanced high-strength steels that can lead to affordable mass reduction solutions.

World Steel Production Dips Again in April 2009

21 May 2009 - World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association stood at an estimated 89.5 million tonnes in April 2009 — 23.6% lower than for the same month of 2008, and 2.9% below the previous month.

Stainless, Specialty Imports Still Down through February as Consumption Lags

20 May 2009 - Total stainless imports reached 63,391 tons through February 2009, a 51.3% decrease compared to YTD February 2008 according to the latest report from SSINA. Total specialty imports reached 93,272 tons through the same period, a 44.6% decrease compared to YTD February 2008.

Steel Shipments Down 54.8% in March

20 May 2009 - U.S. steel mills shipped 4,138,000 net tons of steel for the month of March 2009, a 54.8% decrease from March 2008 and a 4.2% decrease from February 2009, according to the latest report from AISI.