Steel

• Energy, aerospace demand boost ATI's profit Oct 26, 2005

  Driven by strong demand for its more specialized products, Allegheny Technologies Inc. (ATI), Pittsburgh, logged a tenfold increase in third-quarter net income to $88.3 million despite weaker demand for traditional flat-rolled products.

• Hurricanes blow in short delay for Ipsco line; rebuilding demand now emerging Oct 26, 2005

  The lingering impact of hurricanes Dennis and Katrina on the U.S. Southeast has slowed by a few days Ipsco Inc.'s plans to open a plate heat-treating and quench and temper line in Mobile, Ala., but didn't greatly impact the company's financial performance.

• Timken doubles profit, ups outlook for year Oct 26, 2005

  Strong demand in the aerospace and energy industries helped Timken Co. to more than double its net income to more than $39.8 million in the third quarter on record sales that climbed 14.7 percent to nearly $1.26 billion compared with the same period last year.

• Incentives key for Brazil slab export project Oct 26, 2005

  The foundation should be laid in January for Cia. Siderúrgica do Atlântico (CSA), the 4.4-million-tonne-a-year slab-for-export plant being built in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state by ThyssenKrupp Steel AG (TKS), Duisburg, Germany, and Cia. Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD).

• USS profits slip due to lower spot prices, higher gas costs Oct 25, 2005

  A combination of lower spot market prices, reduced operating rates and higher natural gas costs resulted in weaker third-quarter results for U.S. Steel Corp., Pittsburgh.

• Reliance's net income climbs 12% on 11% sales gain in third quarter Oct 25, 2005

  Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.'s net income rose 12 percent in the third quarter, buoyed by strong demand from the aerospace market and lower inventory expense, on sales that rose 11 percent compared with the same period in 2004.

• US raw steel production inches 0.1% higher Oct 25, 2005

  Raw steel output in the United States totaled 2,010,000 tons last week, a 0.1-percent increase from 2,008,000 tons produced the previous week, as mills operated at an average capability utilization rate of 87 percent.

• Rising energy costs spur Ohio steelmakers to call for more flexible policy Oct 25, 2005

  Some of Ohio's largest energy consumers are sounding an alarm about the high cost of energy.

• Morgan to revamp Spanish rod mill Oct 25, 2005

  Global Steel Wire SA, Santander, Spain, has awarded a contract to Morgan Construction Co., Worcester, Mass., to upgrade its rod mill.

• Maverick's quarterly net slips despite boost in energy sales Oct 25, 2005

  Maverick Tube Corp.'s third-quarter earnings slumped 42.9 percent despite higher sales, particularly to energy markets.

• AWMI to hear Ferrostaal's Schmidt Oct 25, 2005

  Uwe T. Schmidt, president and chief executive officer of global trading company Man Ferrostaal Inc., will discuss the "Evolution of the Global Steel Trade" at a Nov. 16 meeting of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Women in the Metal Industries (AWMI).

• Record tubular sales volumes fail to prevent dip in 3d-qtr. Ipsco profit Oct 25, 2005

  While record sales of energy-related tubular products helped Ipsco Inc., Lisle, Ill., post a nearly 10-percent increase in third-quarter revenue, it failed to prop up earnings.

• US drilling slows, Canada speeds up Oct 25, 2005

  The number of drill rigs running in the United States fell by eight last week, with the largest decrease in Louisiana (down four), while Canadian drilling activity increased by 33 rigs.

• AK pins quarterly loss on natural gas costs Oct 25, 2005

  Higher natural gas costs helped push AK Steel Corp. into the red during the third quarter despite a 4.2-percent increase in sales.

• Carpenter Technology's earnings double in qtr. Oct 24, 2005

  Carpenter Technology Corp.'s net income more than doubled to $40.1 million in its fiscal first quarter on sales that increased 16.3 percent to a record $346 million compared with the same period last year.

• AK Steel inks long-term agreement for iron ore pellet supply from QCM Oct 24, 2005

  AK Steel Corp., Middletown, Ohio, has entered into a long-term supply agreement with Quebec Cartier Mining Co. (QCM) to purchase iron ore pellets for its steelmaking operations.

• New Universal contract ends Titusville strike Oct 24, 2005

  Striking workers at Universal Stainless & Alloy Products Inc.'s plant in Titusville, Pa., have agreed to a new five-year contract.

• Insteel's earnings slide in 4th qtr., fiscal year Oct 24, 2005

  Insteel Industries Inc. posted net income of $25 million in its fiscal year, down 20.5 percent from a record $31.5 million the previous year despite a 3.9-percent increase in sales to $345.5 million.

• JFE delays China project decision Oct 24, 2005

  JFE Steel Corp., Tokyo, has delayed a decision on whether to pursue a 10-million-tonne-per-year integrated steel project with China's Guangzhou Iron & Steel Enterprises Ltd. in the Guangzhou-Nansha Economic and Technological Development Zone.

• Commerce drops dumping duty on imports of hot rolled from CSN Oct 24, 2005

  The U.S. Commerce Department has eliminated a 41.27-percent anti-dumping duty on imports of hot-rolled coil produced by Brazil's Cía. Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN).

• Ameristeel's Casey to receive award from SMA Oct 24, 2005

  Phillip E. Casey, chairman and chief executive officer of Gerdau Ameristeel Corp., Tampa, Fla., has been selected by the Steel Manufacturers Association to receive the Kenneth Iverson-Marvin Selig Award.

• Three companies reach agreement with EPA over air emissions in Ind. Oct 21, 2005

  Indiana Harbor Coke Co., Cokenergy LLC and Mittal Steel USA have reached an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over air emissions at a heat recovery coal carbonization facility at Mittal's integrated steel plant in East Chicago, Ind., the EPA's Region 5 office said.

• AK names Wainscott to additional post of chairman effective Jan. 1 Oct 21, 2005

  AK Steel Corp., Middletown, Ohio, has named James L. Wainscott chairman effective Jan. 1.

• McAninch takes hard line on Titusville strikers Oct 21, 2005

  A strike at Universal Stainless & Alloy Products Inc.'s Titusville, Pa., operations continues, though the company's chief says it remains focused on ending the action there but will only agree to a contract that makes economic sense.