Low Mississippi River levels threaten scrap flow

Nov 28, 2012 | 04:27 PM | Sean Davidson

Tags  scrap, ferrous scrap, Mississippi River, pig iron, scrap substitutes, Army Corps of Engineers, ISRI, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Sean Davidson

NEW YORK — Steel raw materials shipments along the Mississippi River are facing severe delays due to low water levels, and the situation is likely to worsen if action is not taken, according to market sources.

Unless the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers takes emergency action to ensure water levels don’t fall below what is necessary to support inland waterway navigation, barge traffic along the Mississippi River between St. Louis and Cairo, Ill., could come to a halt around Dec. 10, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries told members this week.

"The problem is due to a combination of low water levels, the annual operating plan of the (U.S.) Army Corps of Engineers to reduce flow into the Mississippi from the Missouri River, and some rock formations in the water that need to be removed to allow passage of the barges during low water conditions," ISRI said. ....