Association of Women in the Metal Industry (AWMI)
Issues Impacting U.S. Steel Producers
Thomas A. DanjczekPresidentSteel Manufacturers AssociationColumbus, OhioNovember 13, 2007
Outline
• SMA
• U.S. steel production
• Economic competitiveness and scrap demand
• Steel market conditions-Consolidations -Raw material prices-Capital spending -Consumption-New capacity -Imports-Price trends
• Chinese government subsidies to its steel/auto industries
• Washington issues for steel-Environmental-Energy-Trade-Other
•Conclusion
AWMI – Columbus Chapter
• The Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA)– 36 North American companies:
30 U.S., 4 Canadian, and 2 Mexican– 125 Associate members:
Suppliers of goods and services to the steel industry
• SMA member companies– Operate 125 steel recycling plants in North America– Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmakers using recycled steel
AWMI – Columbus Chapter SMA
• Production capability– EAF steel producers accounted for 59% of U.S. production in 2006– SMA represents over 70% of all U.S. steel production
• Recycling– SMA members are the largest recyclers in the U.S.– EAF steel producers are the largest recyclers in the world– Last year, the U.S. recycled over 75 million tons of steel
• Growth of SMA member companies– Highly efficient users of labor, energy, and materials – Modern plants producing world class quality products
AWMI – Columbus Chapter SMA
U.S. Raw Stee l Production
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Year
To
nn
age
(in
mill
ion
s o
f to
ns)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
% -
EA
F P
rod
uct
ion
Tonnage - Integrated Total Tonnage - U.S. Steel Industry Tonnage - EAF % - EAF Production
U.S. Raw Steel Production: Largest Recyclers in the Nation – 100 million tons of steel produced each year
AWMI – Columbus Chapter U.S. Steel Production
U.S. Steel Industry, Then. . . . . . . . .and Now
EAF’s are 21st Century Steelmakers
THEN: Smoke pouring into the air from a Pittsburgh steel mill. Image by Corbis - Bettmann
NOW: Electric Arc Furnace facility.
AWMI – Columbus Chapter 21st Century
Reasons
Economics: “To be cost competitive, one needs to be either where the market is, or
where the raw materials are.” (Paul O’Neil, Alcoa)
Scrap Availability: U.S. has the scrap and infrastructure, with over 2000 scrap processors. Steel
recycling rate is over 75 percent.
AWMI – Columbus Chapter
Steel Markets
In U.S., EAF’s have steadily expanded their range of products, approaching 60 percent overall:
EAF Production
Heavy Structurals100%
Light Structurals 100%
Reinforcing Bar 100%
Rail 100%
Plate* 33%
SBQ 90%
Hot Rolled* 33%
Cold Rolled* 33%
Galvanized* 33%
Stainless Sheet 100%
Overall 60%
*U.S. minimills produce 1/3 of U.S. flat rolled, with 24 out of 72 million tons of capacity
Estimated that 90% of market specifications can be made cost effectively from scrap (i.e. not tin plate, deep draw auto, etc.), with limit on pig iron usage
AWMI – Columbus Chapter
AWMI – Columbus Chapter Market Conditions
Steel Industry Consolidations
• Raw steel capacity in U.S. is approximately 110-120 million tonnes
• Due to a number of consolidations, the top 10 companies are approx. 90 million tonnes; top 3 companies are approx. 60 million tonnes
• Worldwide, the top company is only 10 percent
Capital Spending is Expected to Double in 2007 for Major U.S. Producers
2002 2006 20070
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
$ B
illio
n
0.77
1.58
3.20
Capital Spending (in billions) 2002, 2006 and forecasted 2007
Source: Bank of America Survey; includes six steel companies: Allegheny Technologies, Inc., CMC Steel Group, Ipsco Inc., Nucor Corporation, Steel Dynamics Inc. and United States Steel Corporation.
AWMI – Columbus Chapter Market Conditions
Investment/Financing of New Capacity in the U.S. Steel Industry*
The U.S. Steel industry will see several new complete production facilities come online in the next 2-3 years for the 1st time in decades.
• SeverCorr will produce 1 million tonnes of coated sheet annually from its Columbus, Mississippi location starting in the Fall of 2007, with plans for a capacity of 3.1 million tonnes when the full project is completed in several years. Cost is $ 880 million.
• ThysenKrupp AG is planning a large project also in Mobile, Alabama to supply the transplant auto industry with 3.6 million tonnes of flat rolled carbon and stainless steel. Cost is $3.7 billion. Shipments are to begin in 2010. Slabs will be supplied from Brazil to complement the EAF furnace on site.
•Nucor is reopening a bar mill site in Memphis, Tennessee to supply the SBQ market with up to 750 thousand tonnes annually. Cost is $230 million. Steel production is scheduled for the 1st Quarter of 2008.
•Essar Steel Holdings of India will take over the project started by Minnesota Steel to build a 2.3 million tonne slab and hot-rolled coil project in Minnesota that includes a taconite mine. Start is scheduled in 2009 at a cost of $1.6 billion.
•Commercial Metals Corporation (CMC) is planning a micro mill to supply the West Coast rebar market with a 275 thousand tonne capability at a location outside of Phoenix, Arizona that is situated to serve the immediate area’s supply needs starting in 2009. Cost is $130 million.
*Aside from mainly state (mostly locational, small, generally available) incentives, virtually all new investment is being financed by private sources. During the Steel Subsidies Agreement (SSA) negotiation, the U.S. steel industry opposed all steel-specific subsidies, other than for closure assistance. This remains our position.
AWMI – Columbus Chapter Market Conditions
2006 Jan
MarchMay
July
September
November
2007 JanMarch
May
450
500
550
600
650
700
750
800
850
Pri
ce
pe
r to
n U
S$
Monthly spot-market price from purchasing magazineHot Rolled SheetHD Galvanized SheetCut Length PlateReinforcing Bar
Source: Purchasing Magazine
Average Price Trends – Steel Mill Products
AWMI – Columbus Chapter Market Conditions
Source: American Metal Market / Scrap and Zinc World Steel Dynamics / Coke (China Export); Iron Ore Fines (Brazil Export)
Raw Material Prices
2004 2005 2006 January March June0
50
100
150
200
250
300
$ p
er t
on
fo
r S
crap
, C
oke
an
d I
ron
Ore
fin
es /
cen
t p
er l
bs
for
Zin
c
Spot prices for Raw MaterialsScrapZincCokeIron Ore fines
AWMI – Columbus Chapter Market Conditions
2007 consumption is behind the apparent 2006 level, but is expected to improve by the end of the year as inventories correct.
USA Million Mt % Change (’07 vs. ’06) Crude Steel 128.4 -4.6 Finished 114.3 -4.4Exports 8.8 -0.1 Imports 29.3 -11.4
Survey of the Short Range Outlook Fall 2007 United States
Apparent Steel Use (million metric tonnes)
2003
2004
2005
2006 2007
(f)2008 (f)
Crude Steel 109.0 127.8 117.4 134.7 128.4 132.2
Finished Steel 100.4 115.6 107.1 119.6 114.3 118.6
Source: IISI forecast for the United States
AWMI – Columbus Chapter Market Conditions
United States Statistics – Steel Trade
thou MTU.S. Finished Steel Mill Product Imports
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 20070
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
Other NAFTAOther Western HemisphereEUOther EuropeAsia w/o Ch.China
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce
(metric tonnes)
Total Finished
2007 32.2277 26.3991
2006 41.071 32.616
2005 29.1288 22.8538
2004 32.4845 25.7541
2003 20.9786 16.6096
2002 29.6522 21.6291
2001 27.2881 21.4458
U.S. Imports
(million metric tonnes)
AWMI – Columbus Chapter Market Conditions
Chinese Government Subsidies to its Steel Industry
China’s steel industry today is overbuilt and under-demolished
AWMI – Columbus Chapter Chinese Steel Industry
-Government ownership: 8 of the 10 largest Chinese steel groups are 100 percent owned by Chinese government; of the top 20, 91 percent state-owned production
-Subsidies: recent report on RMB 390 billion (US $52 billion) granted to Chinese steel producers
-RMB 141 billion in equity infusion, listing 37 Chinese companies
-RMB 130 billion in preferential loans
-RMB 71 billion due to currency manipulation
-RMB 39 billion in land used discounts
-RMB 10 billion in mandated mergers
-RMB 2 billion in direct cash grants
AWMI – Columbus Chapter China’s Subsidies
-China has NOT become the world’s largest steel producer by accident, or by operation of free markets, or comparative advantage
-China is NOT a low-cost steel producer
-China has reached its position through a combination of subsidies, mandates, and planned intervention
-China’s steel capacity will be 600 million tonnes by year end 2007
-China’s steel capacity is 5 times that of the U.S.
-China’s steel exports surged to 33.8 million tonnes in the first half of 2007, double the same period in 2006
AWMI – Columbus Chapter Auto Parts Summary
-China’s exports of auto parts and vehicles are expanding by approximately 30 percent per year
-China requires U.S. automakers with operations in China to buy in China and expand in China
-China has tripled its exports of parts between 2002-2006
-China has now obtained technology through massive subsidies to foreign producers to locate in China, i.e.:
-Income tax reductions, VAT exemptions, tariff exemptions, discounted lending rates, benefit exemptions, equipment refunds
AWMI – Columbus Chapter Auto Parts Summary
- GM has committed to purchase $10 billion annually in Chinese-produced auto parts by 2009
-Ford has committed to buy at least $13 billion and export worldwide
-China’s undervalued exchange rate provides an incentive to export
Summary: U.S. automakers and auto part producers have made massive investments in China to take advantage of Chinese government subsidies and incentives. The rush to China has been driven by illegal subsidies.
0.0
1,000.0
2,000.0
3,000.0
4,000.0
5,000.0
6,000.0
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Mil
lion
s of
Dol
lars
0.0%
2.0%
4.0%
6.0%
8.0%
10.0%
12.0%
Sh
are
of U
.S. I
mp
orts
Imports from China China's Share of Imports
Data cover NAICS codes 33621, 33631-33639.Source: USITC Trade Dataweb at http://dataweb.usitc.org.
AWMI – Columbus Chapter Auto Parts Summary
U.S. Imports of Auto Parts and Vehicle Bodies from China, Value and Share
Washington Issues
for Steel
Trade
Fair Currency Act (H.R.782, S.796) – Ryan-Hunter and Bunning; exchange-rate misalignment as a countervailable export subsidy; clarify definition of manipulation with respect to currency
Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act (H.R. 2942) – Ryan-Hunter; expand authority of ITC to impose countervailing duties on products from NMEs that have been provided a countervailable subsidy
Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act (S.1607) – Baucus-Grassley-Schumer-Graham; identification of misaligned currency and required action for correction; Finance Committee
Currency Reform and Financial Markets Access Act (S.1677) – Dodd-Shelby; exchange rates of major trading nations and U.S. dollar reflect market forces; Banking Committee
Non-Market Economy Trade Remedy Act (H.R.1229 & S.974) – Davis-English and Collins; applies CVD to NMEs; alters subsidy determination methodology; requires Congressional approval for NME status revocation; Finance Committee
Comments: concern over congestion in Senate – blocked flow of key legislation; Senate Banking & Finance Committees battling for ownership of “China issue”; omnibus Rockefeller bill has had trouble gaining traction (too large); Senate Finance bill has star power (Clinton, Obama, etc), but seems to lack teeth; weakening U.S. dollar impacting arguments on currency
AWMI – Columbus Chapter
Growth in EAF steelmaking has allowed the steel industry to reduce energy usage:
Lower energy usage equals lower greenhouse gas emissions
Energy Intens ity - Steel Industry in the U .S.
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
1990 1995 2000 2002 2003 2004 2005
Y ear
Millio
ns of
Btu/T
on of
Stee
l
E nergy U se
Steel Made in EA Fs in the U .S .
30%
40%
50%
60%
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
Year
EAF Capacity Growth, US
AWMI – Columbus Chapter GHG Emissions
Scrap-based Steelmaking (EAF-recycling)
Ore-based Steelmaking
8.4 million Btu of Energy per ton of steel produced
EAF Steelmaking Is Energy Efficient
Steel Info – US Dept. of Energy.
19.1 million Btu of Energy per ton of steel produced
AWMI – Columbus Chapter EAF Efficiency
Climate Change/Energy
Global Climate Change Security Oversight Act (H.R.1961 & S.1018) – Markey and Durbin; requires Director of National Intelligence to submit estimate on geopolitical effects of global climate change and implications on U.S. national security
Climate Stewardship Act (H.R.620 & S.280) – Lieberman-Warner; accelerate reduction of GHG emissions through tradable allowances limiting emissions in U.S. and reducing dependence on foreign oil
Safe Climate Act (H.R.1590) – Waxman; amends Clean Air Act to cap emissions in 2012 at 2005 levels and set targets for a 2% reduction in GHG emissions each year from 2010-2050 – caps on emissions of sources and sectors with largest emissions or best opportunities to reduce them
Low Carbon Economy Act (S.1766) – Bingaman-Specter; reduction of GHG emissions to 2006 levels by 2020, and 1990 levels by 2030
Comments: Handful of competing bills, most include cap-and-trade provisions; Lieberman bill likely to see mark-up in next month; Senate floor debate on cap-and-trade expected either late this year or early ’08; Senate bills could move through three separate committees
AWMI – Columbus Chapter
Climate Change/Energy, cont.
Dingell– proposal imposing tax on use of fossil fuels; 50 cents/gallon on gasoline and jet fuel phased in over 5 years; $50/ton tax on carbon released from burning coal, petroleum, or natural gas; cut GHG emissions by 60-80% by 2050
Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act (H.R.3221) – Pelosi; Congress debating adopting national renewable portfolio standard (RPS); House energy bill contained RPS language for investor-owned utilities, Senate bill did not; concern over rate impacts of national program, especially among those with limited access to viable qualified resources; possible House-Senate conference bill would likely include national RPS requirement
AWMI – Columbus Chapter
Transportation
Railroad Competition and Service Improvement Act (H.R.2125 & S.953) – Oberstar and Rockefeller; promote competition and reliable rail service; alter process at Surface Transportation Board to facilitate more reasonable process for rate and service disputes
Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act (H.R.1650 & S.772) – Baldwin-Baker and Kohl; amend Federal antitrust laws to provide expanded coverage and eliminate exemptions contrary to public interest
Freight Rail Infrastructure Capacity Expansion Act (H.R. 2116 & S.1125) – Meek and Lott; amend IRS code to encourage investment in expansion of freight rail infrastructure capacity; up to 25% in tax credit for building projects (excluding rail cars)
Hours of Service Regulations – seek stay on U.S. Court of Appeals ruling vacating 11-hour driving time and 34-hour restart provisions
Comments: Increased amount of hearings attest to growing strength of shipper concerns; railroads on defensive – tax credit bill currently an afterthought; initial preparations for next Highway Bill – will be larger – increased focus on bridge projects; fuel taxes and public-private partnerships as growing topics
AWMI – Columbus Chapter
Other Key Legislation
Employee Free Choice Act (H.R.800 & S.1041) – Miller and Kennedy; “Card Check” legislation, intended to amend National Labor Relations Act, allowing card check process for votes on unionization, rather than secret balloting; passed through House, initially narrowly defeated in Senate; heavily partisan voting; will return in 2009
Lobbying and Ethics Reform Act (H.Res.6 & S.1) – near total gift bans and travel restrictions – seek pre-approval of Ethics Committee (30 days); lobbying disclosure reports now due quarterly, with increased penalties for failure to report and random audits; “Sarbanes-Oxley for lobbyists”
AWMI – Columbus Chapter
AWMI – Columbus Chapter Conclusion
-Need aggressive policy measures to prevent China from causing a major crisis. To date, only trade cases have had an impact.
-It’s still a cyclical business with demand, scrap, inventories, etc.
-U.S. EAF growth will continue
-Massive subsidized growth continues
-Consolidations will continue
-China, China, China… everything else is only an embellishment
-Unknowns (interest rates, economic growth, imports, etc.)
-Don’t expect help from Washington. 2009 may bring increased environmental and labor legislation.
Top Related