Nucor Future Steel Mill Project Pipeline Exceeds $1 Billion

---

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas). Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) (Charlotte, North Carolina) has been on a major project development binge as of late. It seems as soon as one major project is announced another one shows up right behind it. Currently, Nucor is developing more than $1.1 billion in planned capital and maintenance projects in the U.S. This money will be spread across 36 projects at Nucor's existing steel mills, as well as for new grassroot construction. These projects are scheduled to begin construction in 2006 through 2008.

Click on the image at right to view a chart showing the breakdown of planned project spending at Nucor by market region.

Major projects include a grassroot SBQ Steel Mill at an undetermined location in the south, a major melt shop expansion, a hot dip galvanizing line addition, a new Castrip mill, and vacuum degaser additions. Smaller projects planned include annual mill maintenance shutdowns and plant upgrades.

Nucor is also involved in a program to shore up alternatives to scrap steel, which the company relies heavily upon at its many recycled steel mills. Demand for scrap steel is up worldwide and prices have been volatile. Nucor is currently commissioning a new $225 million Midrex Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) plant in Point Lisas, Trinidad. Nucor relocated a major portion of the new plant from Louisiana last year. In addition, Nucor has long-term plans to construct alternative iron facilities for DRI and HIsmelt at its steel mills in the U.S.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is a Marketing Information Service company that has been doing business for over 23 years. IIR is respected as the leader in providing comprehensive market intelligence pertaining to the industrial processing, heavy manufacturing, and energy-related industries throughout the world.