Supply Chain

• Shippers must strategize fleet to stay afloat Dec 07, 2011

  Demand for ocean freight has regained its footing following the economic crisis that shook the world, according to Robert Drew, general manager of logistics for Tata Steel International.

• Capesize vessels in oversupply: execs Dec 07, 2011

  Global overcapacity of capesize ships will plague the market—particularly in terms of low pricing and weak or phantom profits for ship owners—for some time, according to several international shipping experts.

• Mesabi Nugget on track for quick restart Dec 07, 2011

  Steel Dynamics Inc.’s Mesabi Nugget LLC plant is expected to resume production shortly after an "overpressure event" blew pieces of steel siding off a building, resulting in the brief hospitalization of a contract worker at the Hoyt Lakes, Minn., site.

• Samuel closes Doral Steel acquisition Dec 06, 2011

  Canadian metals manufacturer and distributor Samuel, Son & Co. Ltd. has completed its acquisition of flat-rolled processor Doral Steel Inc.

• MMFX to sell Fla. rebar fabrication plant Dec 06, 2011

  MMFX Steel Corp. of America, which recently exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, has agreed to sell its Florida plant as it exits the fabrication sector to focus on selling stock lengths to distributors, fabricators and contractors.

• Trucking regulations said burdensome Dec 06, 2011

  High driver turnover and a difficult economy, coupled with stringent federal regulations, is hurting the trucking and freight sector, according to transportation experts.

• Main Steel Polishing appoints DeCarlo marketing exec Dec 06, 2011

  Main Steel Polishing Co. Inc. has appointed Joe DeCarlo vice president of stainless marketing.

• Empire selling two operations to Supreme Group Dec 06, 2011

  Steel fabricator Empire Industries Ltd. is selling two of its Canadian facilities in a deal valued at approximately Canadian $3.8 million ($3.7 million).

• Communication saves transportation costs, say metal managers Dec 05, 2011

  Transportation and logistics managers at three metal companies said they’re doing better than ever at managing costs by forming close relationships with their carriers and drivers, stressing that communication is paramount.

• Johannessen Trading promotes DeMarco Dec 05, 2011

  Kevin DeMarco has been promoted to vice president and general manager of steel distributor Johannessen Trading Co.

• Planned BF outage prompts Cliffs output cut Dec 05, 2011

  Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. executives said Monday that they expect full-year 2012 iron ore output at the global mining and natural resources company’s majority owned Empire Mine in Michigan to total about 2.7 million tons, down almost 60 percent from this year’s anticipated full-year production volume of about 4.6 million tons

• Greater infrastructure spending urged Dec 05, 2011

  A fixed highway and railroad system, coupled with a massive increase in population and trade demand, makes for inefficiencies in the nation’s infrastructure network, according to a transportation expert.

• ATI Ladish lands contract to supply Goodrich Dec 05, 2011

  Allegheny Technologies Inc.’s Ladish forging operation has won its first major long-term contract since its acquisition by ATI earlier this year.

• Economic ‘malaise’ may lift on US energy sector: analyst Dec 05, 2011

  The global economy is at a dangerous juncture, especially in light of the European debt crisis, but there are reasons for optimism in 2012, including in energy plays and commodities, according to the managing director of IHS Global Insight Inc.

• Toyota to ship US-built Camrys to S. Korea Dec 05, 2011

  Toyota Motor North America Inc. said Monday it plans to export some 6,000 U.S.-assembled Camry sedans annually to its distributor in South Korea, marking the first time U.S.-built Camrys will be shipped outside of North America.

• Carpenter in $1.4M deal to buy ARwin Machining Dec 05, 2011

  Carpenter Technology Corp. has agreed to acquire Canadian machining company ARwin Machining Plus Ltd. for $1.4 million, the company said Monday.

• China currency bill misunderstood: trade lawyers Dec 05, 2011

  The fiercely debated currency bill that has flared tempers from Capitol Hill to Beijing but has yet to make its way through the House may pack a lot less wallop than thought.

• East Coast ports gear up for growth Dec 05, 2011

  More East Coast ports are taking measures to handle increased business in anticipation of the $5.2-billion Panama Canal expansion to be completed in August 2014.

• NAS raises Dec. fuel extra to 34% Dec 05, 2011

  North American Stainless Inc. (NAS) has increased its fuel surcharge for stainless flat and long products to 34 percent for December from 32 percent last month.

• US drilling falls, Canada steady Dec 05, 2011

  The number of drill rigs running in the United States fell by seven last week, led by Colorado and Texas (each down four), while Canadian drilling activity was unchanged from the previous week.

• Discrimination complaint lands Pa. center $122,989 fine Dec 05, 2011

  Fine Steel Inc. has been ordered to pay $122,989 to a former employee who alleged the company discriminated against him based on his Mexican ancestry.

• Ryerson plans 'major' expansion at Ark. facility Dec 02, 2011

  Metals processor and distributor Ryerson Inc. plans to renovate, expand and boost plate-processing capabilities at its service center in Little Rock, Ark.

• New MSCI division may impact CBSA Dec 02, 2011

  The Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI) foray into red metals has some market participants wondering whether the trade group will push out the more than 60-year-old Copper and Brass Servicenter Association (CBSA).

• Automakers post solid November sales Dec 02, 2011

  The United States’ seven largest automakers sold a total of 848,123 vehicles in November, up 13.4 percent from the same month last year but down 3 percent from October.