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> America is dangerously dependent on imported steel — all at the same time while having the best iron ore deposits, and coke deposits, and cheap energy. 93% o
by nostrademons 5y ago
> America is dangerously dependent on imported steel — all at the same time while having the best iron ore deposits, and coke deposits, and cheap energy.
93% of North American steel produced each year is from recycled products [1], and 98% of products are recycled [2]. There is no reason to use either iron ore or coke for steel production when the vast majority of it is produced in electric arc furnaces from scrap steel. It's better economically and better environmentally.
This is also why Nucor has been eating U.S. Steel's lunch for about 50 years, long before China entered the steelmaking business.
[1] https://cssbi.ca/mid-rise-construction/sustainable-steel https://cssbi.ca/mid-rise-construction/sustainable-steel
[2] https://www.aisc.org/why-steel/sustainability/ https://www.aisc.org/why-steel/sustainability/
- baybal2 5y agoEven Nucor is being very much steamrolled by imports. Efficiencies of scale achieved by megamills cannot be achieved by small in-situ smelters, simple economics