The US steel market has done well since the recession and is expected to grow by 5.7% in 2012 and 5.6% in 2013 bringing it up to 99.5m tonnes - 92% of its pre-recession levels, according to the World Steel Association (worldsteel).
This is good news for the wide variety of industrial minerals whose fortunes are linked to steel additives and refractories, especially lime - which is the most widely used steel flux mineral. In response, several leading lime suppliers have upped capacity to meet higher demand.
Martin Marietta
Martin Marietta Magnesia Specialties LLC Inc. (MMMS), is significantly expanding dolomitic lime production with the addition of a new kiln at its Woodville, Ohio plant where the majority of the lime produced is sold as a flux to the steel industry.
The new rotary kiln is the main part...