U.S. Downstream Metal Producers Tee Up $2 Billion in Kickoffs

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Written by Will Ploch, Assistant Editor-in-Chief for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

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Summary

Pipes, tubular components and battery materials are the top products for U.S.-based downstream metal producers, who are looking at nearly $2 billion worth of potential project kickoffs in the third quarter of 2026.

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Rising Demand at Home

Domestic downstream metal producers cater to a wide range of markets, and upcoming project starts offer a glimpse of what is topping their to-do lists. Industrial Info Resources is tracking nearly $2 billion worth of projects in the U.S.-based sector for the rolling, processing, finishing and fabrication of metals that are scheduled to begin construction in the third quarter; more than half of the total is attributed to plant expansions or equipment additions.

According to Industrial Info Resources data, U.S. demand for steel pipes and tubes, particularly from the Oil & Gas Industry, is driving nearly 30% of next quarter's kickoffs. These include US Forged Rings Incorporated's (USFR) tubular manufacturing and fabrication plant in Cofield, North Carolina, which is the first of a three-phase development. The company--whose products are used in reactors, heat exchangers and other power-generation components--has a strategic supply chain partnership with Nucor Corporation, and its new site will be located close to one of Nucor's steel-processing facilities.

"By building this domestic capacity, USFR will reduce the nation's reliance on imported products, strengthen supply-chain resilience, and improve certainty in the delivery of essential infrastructure and industrial projects," the company said in a press release.

Industrial Info Resources offers more information on the Cofield development in its Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Metals & Minerals Plant and Project databases, where readers can find details--including construction schedules, investment values and necessary equipment--in a detailed plant profile and project report.

Among the developers bolstering capacity at their existing facilities is American Cast Iron Pipe Company, which is preparing for a Phase III addition to its steel pipe mill in Birmingham, Alabama. The company--which normally sells its products to municipalities, utilities and heavy-duty contractors--plans to replace an aging furnace as part of a broader effort that includes adding a new casting machine and building a new lining and coating plant. Readers can learn more from a detailed plant profile and project report.

By the Numbers

• Nearly $2 billion: Total value of the U.S.-based downstream metals projects scheduled to kick off in the third quarter
• Nearly 30%: Share of the total attributed to the U.S. demand for steel pipes and tubes
• $11.3 million: Value of grant from the California Energy Commission for LiCAP's battery-component developments

Components for Technologies Old and New

Demand for fabricated structural metal also is driving much of the investment in third-quarter project kickoffs. United Alloy Incorporated is preparing to expand capacity at its plant in Vandalia, Ohio, which manufactures fuel tanks and enclosures for power generators, as well as custom reservoirs and other heavy metal fabrications, according to the company's website. This is the second phase of a project that saw its initial phase completed in October. Readers can learn more from a detailed plant profile and project report.

Other specialized metal producers include Simpson Strong-Tie Company Incorporated, which is preparing to expand capacity at its plant in McKinney, Texas. The facility, which produces structural connectors, fasteners and heavy hardware for the construction market, will see new manufacturing and warehousing space, as well as additions and remodeling of existing features. Readers can consult a detailed plant profile and project report.

With the market for battery components heating up, U.S.-based LiCAP Technologies Incorporated is preparing to begin construction on a battery electrode plant in Sacramento, California, which will serve as the company's dedicated manufacturing hub for its Activated Dry Electrode products. LiCAP expects the new plant will allow it to better cater to the markets for battery energy-storage systems (BESS) and data centers. More information can be found in a plant profile and project report.

There is broad interest in such technology: LiCAP received an $11.3 million grant from the California Energy Commission for this project, which followed a previous grant from the same commission that led to the commissioning of a production line that has been operational since last summer, according to the company.

The Industrial Info Resources GMI Project and Plant databases offer a full list of detailed reports for projects mentioned in this article, and a full list of related plant profiles.

Industrial Info Resources also offers a full list of reports for projects in the U.S.-based sector for the rolling, processing, finishing and fabrication of metals that are scheduled to begin construction in the third quarter.

Key Takeaways

• U.S. demand for steel pipes and tubes is driving nearly 30% of next quarter's downstream-metal project kickoffs.
• Demand for fabricated structural metal also is driving much of the investment.
• There is broad interest in new technology for battery components in the energy-storage and data-center markets.

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About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news, and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing, and energy-related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified, and verified plant and project opportunities. Across the world, Industrial Info Resources is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 trillion (USD).