Laura Miller, Steel Market Update Journalist Profile

Articles

Higher sheet and plate prices to bolster Nucor's Q2 earnings

1 week ago | steelmarketupdate.com | Laura Miller

That will be a significant improvement over the previous quarter’s $0.67 per diluted share, but a small decline from $2.68 per diluted share in Q2’24. Nucor expects to report higher earnings in all three of its operating segments when it releases its full earnings report after the markets close on Monday, July 28. In the steel products segment, “stable overall pricing, higher volumes, and lower average costs per ton” will help push earnings higher sequentially, the company said.
More appliances added to downstream S232 tariff list

1 week ago | steelmarketupdate.com | Laura Miller

Some were critical of President Trump when, in his first term, he only applied S232 tariffs to steel and aluminum imports, leaving downstream products out in the cold. The president is attempting to correct that mishap in his second go-round. Just after Trump returned to office earlier this year, derivative items were added to the list of steel and aluminum products covered by the S232 tariffs. They began at 25% in March. Earlier this month, Trump raised them to 50%.
SMU Community Chat: Tanners explores if US steel industry still needs imports

2 weeks ago | steelmarketupdate.com | Laura Miller

Speaking on an SMU Community Chat Wednesday morning, Tanners laid out a case for why the US might soon no longer need imported flat-rolled steel, thanks to a wave of domestic capacity additions over the last few years. “Imports are so much less relevant to the US market than they used to be because there’s so much more steel output domestically,” she said on the chat.
USS, Nippon Steel quiet as litigation deadline approaches

2 weeks ago | steelmarketupdate.com | Laura Miller

There has been little word from U.S. Steel, Nippon Steel, or the White House since President Trump endorsed the companies’ “partnership” on social media and celebrated it at the May 30 rally outside Pittsburgh. That could be due to the ongoing litigation surrounding the deal. Recall Nippon Steel, Nippon Steel North America, and U.S. Steel sued the US government after President Biden blocked the deal earlier this year.
Reibus closes down its online metals marketplace

2 weeks ago | steelmarketupdate.com | Laura Miller

“As Reibus continues to evolve, we’ve made the decision to close our metals sales division and focus our energy and innovation on growing Reibus Logistics,” the company wrote in an email. “While this marks the end of one chapter, we are excited about what lies ahead and how we can continue serving the industry in new and impactful ways.”It added: “Reibus Logistics remains fully operational and ready to serve.”Employees were informed of the decision a week earlier.
US Great Lakes iron ore cargoes down notably through May

2 weeks ago | steelmarketupdate.com | Laura Miller

The association reported May ore shipments of 5 million tons were 7.7% lower than May last year and 3.1% below the month’s 5-year average. Year-to-date shipments through May, at 11.7 million tons, were down even more markedly: 18.6% from the first four months of last year and 11.8% from the same period’s five-year average. One possible reason for the declining shipments involves Cleveland-Cliffs.
Nucor lifts list price for spot HRC by $20/ton

2 weeks ago | steelmarketupdate.com | Laura Miller

Laura Miller Laura Miller is a reporter and editor for Steel Market Update. She has held a variety of positions within the steel industry since 2007, including reporting and editing for Steel Business Briefing/Platts, the Association for Iron and Steel Technology, and Kallanish Commodities, as well as marketing for what was then known as ThyssenKrupp Steel USA (now AM/NS Calvert).
AISI: April mill shipments fall, sheet down YTD

3 weeks ago | steelmarketupdate.com | Laura Miller

US steel mills saw a decline in shipments from March to April, according to the latest data from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). AISI’s data shows shipments fell 1.9% from March to 7,580,635 short tons (st) in April. Comparing shipments with those of April 2024 shows a 3.1% year-on-year increase. Year-to-date shipments of 29,777,940 st were 2.1% higher than last year, AISI said. However, the data also reveals a decline in sheet shipments compared to last year.
Hybar eyes expansion as new Arkansas mill produces first rebar

3 weeks ago | steelmarketupdate.com | Laura Miller

At the end of May, the startup steelmaker produced its first rebar at its greenfield steel mill on a 1,300-acre campus in Osceola, Ark., marking a key milestone by completing construction in 22 months. “Mission accomplished,” CEO Dave Stickler said of the achievement. “Hats off to the Hybar team and our construction contractors for a job well done.”In an interview this week, Stickler told SMU the company purchased 100 billets from Steel Dynamics Inc.
Hybar rolls first rebar, ramping up Arkansas mill commissioning

3 weeks ago | steelmarketupdate.com | Laura Miller

At the end of May, the startup steelmaker produced its first rebar at its greenfield steel mill on a 1,300-acre campus in Osceola, Ark., marking a key milestone by completing construction in 22 months. “Mission accomplished,” CEO Dave Stickler said of the achievement. “Hats off to the Hybar team and our construction contractors for a job well done.”In an interview this week, Stickler told SMU the company purchased 100 billets from Steel Dynamics Inc.