Steel

• AK Steel anticipates fourth-quarter loss Nov 13, 2012

  AK Steel Corp. said it expects to report a fourth-quarter loss of between 67 and 72 cents per diluted share due to a decline in average selling prices and expected tax expenses.

• USW ratifies labor contract with Cliffs Nov 13, 2012

  The United Steelworkers union has ratified the tentative contract it signed last month with iron ore and metallurgical coal producer Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.

• Corpac to build Colombian tube plants as it eyes South American market Nov 13, 2012

  Corpac Group is building two plants in Colombia to produce and coat steel tubular products, the company announced late last week.

• Brazil flat steel imports fall in October Nov 13, 2012

  Brazilian imports of flat products fell to 115,170 tonnes in October, down 7.5 percent from a year earlier and 37.6 percent from 184,673 tonnes in September, according to figures released by the country’s foreign trade ministry.

• TPCO job fair targets military veterans for pipe mill Nov 13, 2012

  TPCO America Corp. is holding a second job fair Thursday in Portland, Texas, as it begins the hiring process for workers for its new seamless pipe mill.

• Industry, gov't discuss 'proactive' import plan Nov 13, 2012

  Top executives from a dozen companies sat down with U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk and acting Commerce Secretary Rebecca M. Blank last week to discuss plans for a "proactive" government response to low-priced imports, Nucor Corp. chairman and chief executive officer Daniel R. DiMicco said.

• China's finished steel exports to Latin America up in Sept. Nov 13, 2012

  Chinese exports of finished steel products to Latin American countries totaled 439,057 tonnes in September, up 28 percent from the previous month, according to Latin American steel association Alacero.

• Curbed mining sinks China's daily iron ore production Nov 13, 2012

  China’s daily run-of-mine output of 4.03 million tonnes per day in October was down 6.3 percent from September’s record high due to reduced mining activities during the month, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.

• Brazil iron ore exports rise in Oct. Nov 13, 2012

  Brazil’s exports of iron ore to China rose 38.3 percent year on year in October, taking the Asian nation’s share of the total to more than half, according to Brazilian customs data.

• Wheatland Tube appeals Commerce decision on duties Nov 13, 2012

  Wheatland Tube Co. has contested the final determination in the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA) administrative review of an anti-dumping duty order on imports of circular-welded carbon steel pipe and tube from Thailand.

• US steel exports fall on drop in Nafta shipments Nov 13, 2012

  U.S. steel exports fell to 959,621 tonnes in September, down 9.7 percent from more than 1.06 million tonnes the previous month and 12.8 percent lower than 1.1 million tonnes in September last year, on the back of lower shipments to North American Free Trade Agreement partners Canada and Mexico.

• US raw steel production climbs 2.3% Nov 13, 2012

  U.S. raw steel output totaled 1,746,000 net tons last week as mills operated at an average capability utilization rate of 70.7 percent, up 2.3 percent from 1,707,000 tons the previous week.

• Metals trade imbalance grows in Sept., 3d qtr. Nov 12, 2012

  The U.S. trade deficit for iron and steel mill products grew 16.3 percent month on month to $719 million in September as a $63-million drop in exports more than counteracted a $38-million increase in imports.

• Nucor-Yamato, Gerdau raise beam prices Nov 12, 2012

  At least two domestic mills have announced price increases for structural steel products, according to letters sent to customers.

• Edgen’s 3d-qtr. earnings rise on OCTG, energy segments Nov 12, 2012

  Edgen Group Inc.’s profits surged in the third quarter as its energy and infrastructure group, as well as its oil country tubular goods (OCTG) segment, reported stronger results

• US steel industry hurt by trade barriers: AISI Nov 12, 2012

  Trade restrictions from a number of countries are distorting global trade and international competition for the U.S. steel industry, according to a 33-page American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) report submitted last month to the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office.

• Nucor lifts SBQ scrap surcharge Nov 12, 2012

  Nucor Corp. has raised its raw materials surcharge for special bar quality (SBQ), wire rod and semi-finished products by $53 per ton ($2.65 per hundredweight) to $220 per ton ($11 per cwt), effective with shipments Dec. 1.

• Dunkirk Specialty Steel inks contract with union Nov 12, 2012

  Dunkirk Specialty Steel LLC says it has reached a new five-year collective bargaining agreement with its hourly employees represented by Local 2693 of the United Steelworkers union in Dunkirk, N.Y.

• AK hikes flat-rolled stainless product prices Nov 12, 2012

  AK Steel Corp. will increase prices for all 200-, 300- and 400-series flat-rolled stainless products effective Dec. 30.

• First Turkish mill sets up Houston trading office Nov 12, 2012

  Steelmaker Colakoglu Metalurji AS has established a Houston trading house, making it the first Turkish mill to sell into the United States from a domestic location.

• Nucor, Gerdau to raise rebar, merchants $35/ton Nov 12, 2012

  At least two major mills have announced plans to boost long products prices in response to a rebound in domestic scrap tags.

• USS notifies of intent to participate in two Commerce reviews Nov 12, 2012

  U.S. Steel Corp., Pittsburgh, has submitted notices of intent to participate in dumping and subsidy reviews at the Commerce Department.

• ITA extends Canadian Natural Resources’ response deadline Nov 12, 2012

  The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA) has extended to Nov. 23 the deadline for Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. to respond to a questionnaire.

• China's steel exports decline 6% in October Nov 12, 2012

  China’s steel exports fell again in October on fewer bookings after a quick and strong price rebound in September.