Tin mill producers bank on 'home-cooking' revival to stabilize market 

Jan 01, 2010 | 09:21 AM | Scott Robertson

A strong food pack, including what some in the steel industry believe is the largest tomato pack in U.S. history, is whetting the appetites of the limited number of U.S. manufacturers in the tin products market.

The same producers remain active in efforts to promote the use of steel cans for packaging food products, having ceded the beverage can market to aluminum years ago but determined to hold onto or gain market share in the challenge from freezer bags, pouches, cartons and other containers.

The size of the food pack, which is an annual measurement of the amount of food packed in cans in the United States, is one indicator of strength for the tin products market. Another is the fact that in recessionary times, Americans generally dine out less—translating into increased purchases of canned tomato sauce, soups, fruits and vegetables.

ArcelorMittal USA, Chicago, and U.S. Steel Corp., Pittsburgh, are the dominant players in the U.S. tin products market, accounting for most of the U.S. production. USS-Posco Industries Inc., Pittsburg, Calif., a joint venture of U.S. Steel and Posco Ltd., Seoul, South Korea, and Ohio Coatings Co., Yorkville, Ohio, a subsidiary of Severstal North America Inc., Dearborn, Mich., apply tin coating to substrate provided by their parent companies.....