I understand the temptation. Every time we see a modest increase in activity in a sector we follow, we'd like to conclude that we're on the road to recovery. For U.S. steelmakers, however, I think this road leads nowhere -- for now.
As shipping industry executives assess their own challenges in a separate forum, representatives of major steelmakers have also gathered in the Big Apple for a conference. Lakshmi Mittal of ArcelorMittal (NYSE:MT) pointed to green shoots of demand from China, and U.S. Steel (NYSE:X) CEO John Surma offered a likely rekindling of a blast furnace in Illinois as further indication of modest improvement. Daniel Dimicco, the CEO of U.S. steelmaker Nucor (NYSE:NUE), finds those views overly optimistic, adding: "You don't know if those green shoots are poison ivy or corn." If the steel executives disagree, what is a Fool to conclude?
Thankfully, Texas-based metals conglomerate Commercial Metals (NYSE:CMC) released its earning this week. Commercial Metals surprised analysts with a loss of only $0.10 per share from continuing operations, although the result included a $0.26 per-share boost from last-in, first-out inventory accounting.
The company reported domestic steel production at 58% of capacity in its fiscal third quarter, up from 55% in the second quarter and comparing favorably to the 45% reported by the likes of Nucor and U.S. Steel when we last checked in. Furthermore, the company expects domestic mills to run to near 65% of capacity in this quarter. Sounds like the furnaces are heating up, right?
Not so fast, Fools. Commercial Metals CEO Murray McClean has his own green-shoots-busting remarks: "Any volume improvement in the quarter was seasonal and not reflective of any stimulus effect. Destocking appears to be in its last stages; however, end-use demand remains weak." He sees no evidence of the federal stimulus package boosting steel demand in 2009, but hopes that will change in 2010.
On a more positive note for scrap metal recyclers, for whom Commercial Metals is a major player, McClean sees prices increasing for ferrous scrap metal on improving exports and some pickup in domestic demand. For scrappers like Metalico (AMEX:MEA) and Sims Metal Management (NYSE:SMS), then, some relief could be on the horizon.
For the domestic steel industry, though, I see no major signs that those stone-cold furnaces are preparing to thaw.
Further Foolishness:
- How is steel looking south of the border?
- Asian steelmakers are a different story altogether.
- The Schnitz is still hitting the fan.
