Steel Dynamics Reports Second Quarter 2010 Results

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FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, July 19, 2010 – Steel Dynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ-GS: STLD) today announced net income of $49 million for the second quarter of 2010, or $0.22 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $16 million, or $0.08 per diluted share,

for the second quarter of 2009, and net income of $65 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2010.

Second quarter net sales of $1.6 billion were more than double net sales of $792 million for the second quarter of 2009 and were 5 percent higher than first quarter 2010. Second quarter steel shipments of 1.3 million tons were 43 percent higher than the second quarter of 2009, but were 10 percent lower than the first quarter of 2010. In metals recycling, OmniSource’s ferrous metals shipments in the second quarter were 1.4 million gross tons,up10 percent from the first quarter, and non-ferrous shipments were 237 million pounds, down slightly from the first quarter.

“In the second quarter our steel operations achieved an operating income of $134 million, which was slightly lower than the first quarter’s $138 million,” said Keith Busse, Chairman and CEO. “However, OmniSource’s operating income declined $18 million to $25 million for the second quarter, despite an increase in the volume of ferrous scrap tonnage sold. OmniSource’s gross margin decreased by 3 percentage points as scrap selling prices declined during the quarter. Our steel fabrication losses narrowed from $7 million in the first quarter to $5 million in the second quarter as shipping volume increased 63 percent. 

“Reduced volume was the main catalyst for the decline in operating income for the steel segment, as operating income per ton shipped increased to $108 versus $99 in the first quarter. Average steel selling prices increased $93 per ton to $829, compared to $736 in the first quarter, while the average scrap cost per ton charged increased $49.

“Flat-rolled steel shipments in the second quarterwere down 15 percent from the first quarter, while shipments of long products were somewhat stronger. Weakness in flat-roll demand beginning late in the quarter, coupled with a malfunctioning melt-shop transformer, took its toll on shipments. In addition as previously reported, the Roanoke Bar Division experienced a transformer failure in June, reducing production and shipping volumes for the quarter and increasing costs for the quarter related to the repair.

“In our Ferrous Resources platform,” Busse continued, “we continue to make progress at our Mesabi Nugget plant in Minnesota. During the quarter we corrected materials handling and mechanical issues at the plant by replacing or upgrading equipment. Downtime for the upgrades reduced second-quarter nugget production, which reached 19,200 metric tons. We are pleased by the results of our continued ramp-up efforts, as the process is performing well in terms of metallization during periods of production.

“The impact of Mesabi Nugget start-up costs for Steel Dynamics increased $700,000 from the first quarter to a $12-million loss before taxes for the second quarter. We continue to expect to reach production rates of approximately two-thirds of the facility’s estimated annual capacity of 500,000 metric tons by the end of this year, forecasting a significant increase in production in the second half,” Busse said.

“Currently, we see the markets for our steel products remaining relatively steady, with some short-term uncertainty surrounding demand for flat-rolled steels.” Busse said.  “Except for the continued weakness in demand for structural steel, our long-products mills remain in good shape, with an especially strong backlog for engineered bars. Structural steel volumes have seen some improvement, but our structural mill is still running at a relatively low capacity-utilization rate of less than 40 percent. Although the economy has slowly improved over the past few quarters, at this point we are cautious about the outlook for the second half.  We expect to provide specific third-quarter guidance in September.”

Second Quarter 2010 Operating Segment Information

The following highlights second quarter 2010 results for each of SDI's three primary operating segments. These operating results exclude profit-sharing costs and amortization related to each of the respective segment’s intangible assets.

Steel Operations.Net sales for Steel Operations for the second quarter (including intra-segment and intra-company sales) were $1 billion. The segment represented 60 percent of the company's external sales. This segment includes five steel mills and related steel processing facilities, including The Techs. SDI's five steel mills produce a wide variety of flat-rolled and long steel products. The Techs produce galvanized steel sheet using steel that is sourced primarily from third parties.

Second quarter 2010 Steel Operations shipments were 1.3 million tons (including intra-segment and intra-company shipments), of which 815,000 tons were flat-rolled steel shipments. Based on tons shipped, including the steel shipments made by The Techs, flat-rolled products accounted for 64 percent of second quarter steel operations shipments, 13 percent were structural steel and rail shipments, 10 percent was engineered bars, 9 percent was merchant bars, and 4 percent related to Steel of West Virginia. Second quarter operating income for the steel segment was $134 million, or $108 per ton shipped, compared to an operating income of $99 per ton in the first quarter of 2010.

The second quarter's average external selling price per ton for Steel Operations was $829, an increase of $93 per ton from $736 in the first quarter of 2010 and an increase of $224 per ton from the year-ago quarter. The average cost of ferrous scrap per net ton charged increased $49 compared to the first quarter.

Metals Recycling and Ferrous Resources.This segment includes OmniSource Corporation (collecting, processing, and trading of ferrous and non-ferrous metals), Iron Dynamics (a scrap-substitute operation that produces pig iron for use by the Flat Roll Division), Mesabi Nugget (which produces iron nuggets for mini-mill steelmaking and is co-owned by Kobe Steel, Ltd. and SDI, with SDI owning 81 percent), and expenses related to Mesabi Mining (a wholly owned iron mining unit that is awaiting approval of mining permits before it can begin operation).

The segment's net sales for the second quarter of 2010 were $848 million (including intra-company sales). The segment represented 36 percent of SDI's second quarter external sales. Operating income for this segment was $15 million, down from $32 million in the first quarter. OmniSource's stand-alone second quarter operating income on the same basis was $25 million compared to $43 million in the first quarter.

OmniSource’s total ferrous scrap shipments for the second quarter, including shipments to SDI's Steel Operations, were 1.4 million gross tons, 10 percent higher than the first quarter of 2010 and 80 percent higher than the year-ago quarter. Non-ferrous scrap shipments for the second quarter of 2010 were 237 million pounds (including intra-company shipments), about the same as the first quarter of 2010 and 39 percent higher than the year-ago quarter.

During the second quarter, the company's scrap operations supplied 563,000 gross tons of ferrous scrap to SDI's Steel Operations, which was 42 percent of the total tonnage of ferrous scrap OmniSource shipped and was 48 percent of the tonnage of ferrous scrap purchased by our mills during the quarter.

Steel Fabrication Operations.Steel Fabrication Operations consist of the New Millennium Building Systems fabricating plants that produce joists, trusses, and steel decking that is used in the construction of non-residential buildings. Second quarter net sales were $42 million (including intra-company sales). The segment represented 3 percent of SDI's second quarter external sales. New Millennium reported an operating loss of $5 million for the quarter, a $2-million improvement over first quarter’s loss. Second quarter shipments totaled 42,000 tons (including intra-company shipments), 63 percent higher than the first quarter of 2010 and 18 percent higher than the year-ago quarter.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains some predictive statements about future events, including statements related to conditions in the steel and metallic scrap markets, Steel Dynamics’ revenue, costs of purchased materials, future profitability and earnings, and the operation of new or existing facilities.  These statements are intended to be made as “forward-looking,” subject to many risks and uncertainties, within the safe harbor protections of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such predictive statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results could differ materially from our current expectations.

Factors that could cause such predictive statements to turn out other than as anticipated or predicted include, among others:  the effects of prolonged or deepening recession on industrial demand; general or specific sector (i.e., automotive, consumer appliance or construction) economic conditions affecting steel consumption; the impact of price competition, whether domestic or the result of foreign imports; difficulties in integrating acquired businesses; risks and uncertainties involving new products or new technologies; changes in the availability or cost of steel scrap or substitute materials; increases in energy costs; occurrence of unanticipated equipment failures and plant outages; labor unrest; and the effect of the elements on production or consumption.

More specifically, we refer you to SDI’s detailed explanation of these and other factors and risks that may cause such predictive statements to turn out differently, as set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or in other reports which we from time to time file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available publicly on the SEC Web site, www.sec.gov, and on the Steel Dynamics Web site,www.steeldynamics.com.

Forward-looking or predictive statements we make are based upon information and assumptions concerning our businesses and the environments in which they operate, which we consider reasonable as of the date on which these statements are made.  Due to the foregoing risks and uncertainties however, as well as matters beyond our control which can affect forward-looking statements, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these predictive statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.  We undertake no duty to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:
Fred Warner, Investor Relations Manager
(260) 969-3564 or fax (260) 969-3590

f.warner@steeldynamics.com

News Source : Steel Dynamics Reports Second Quarter 2010 Results