Author Fast Webs<.>, <.>

* Tariff-induced surge in steel prices expected to be realized after Q1
* Sinton, Texas mill reaches 90% capacity levels as ramp-up progresses

Indiana-based Steel Dynamics expects stronger profits in Q1 compared to last quarter as increasing shipping volumes offset tighter margins, the company said on March 17 in its Q1 guidance release.
Demand for the first three months of 2025 was led by the energy, non-residential construction, automotive, and industrial sectors, according to the company.
First quarter 2025 profitability from the company’s steel operations is expected to be stronger than sequential fourth quarter results, based on increased shipments more than offsetting some metal margin compression, as contractual steel pricing lagged recent spot price improvements, which will be realized in the coming months, the company said in a statement.
Platts assessed the daily TSI US hot-rolled coil index at $950/st on an ex-works Indiana basis on March 17, unchanged from March 14.
This assessment, also known as the Platts US HRC daily index, has risen 37.68% since the beginning of the year. This rise has been largely driven by US tariff actions on steel imports.
The company added that its Sinton, Texas flat-rolled steel mill operated at production levels in excess of 90% capacity in Q1, representing a significant ramp-up from Q4 2024 levels. The mill ran at slightly above 80% capacity in the last two months of 2024.
The $1.9 billion mill has been in start-up mode since it came online at the end of 2022 and is expected to become a fully mature facility in the first half of this year, Steel Dynamics previously said in its Q4 2024 earnings call.
The mill has an annual production capacity of 3 million mt, according to Steel Dynamics.