The Steel Industry's Major Concerns: The China Factor and Environmental Standards
According to RNCOS, an industry research firm, in a new market research report titled "US Steel Industry Outlook,” the US produces and consumes about 3% of the world's iron ore output. In 2007, mines in Michigan and Minnesota - the two largest iron ore producers in the country - shipped 95% of the iron ore produced. The weak dollar remains a major challenge for the US steel industry as steel imports are expected to slip down to around 27 million metric tons this year from 30.4 million metric tons in 2007.