Stephen Cooney

Steel prices remain at historically elevated levels. The rapid growth of steel production and demand in China is widely considered as a major cause of the increases in both steel prices and the prices of steel-making inputs. Steel companies have achieved much greater pricing power, in part through an ongoing consolidation of the industry. Most of the integrated side of the industry, nearly half of U. S. production, is controlled by just two companies: U. S. Steel, the traditional industry leader, and Mittal Steel, itself the result of multiple international mergers. Moreover, Mittal in 2006 merged with the global number-two producer, Arcelor. Nucor and Gerdau have been active major consolidators of U. S. minimill production. U. S. steel production in 2005 was 104.6 million tons, a 5% decline from the high level of 2004. The net decline in output was mainly on the integrated side of the industry, which has continuously lost share. Imports also fell from the high level of 2004, although they rebounded by nearly 50% in early 2006. Input prices, especially ferrous scrap and iron ore, remain high and have contributed to higher production costs, which have been largely passed along to industrial consumers. The growth of China contributed to a large increase in demand for both steel and steel-making inputs. China has become both the world's largest steel-maker and steel consumer. This new book presents the latest analyses on this critical industry.

Over one million Americans are employed in manufacturing motor vehicles, equipment and parts. But the industry has changed dramatically since the U. S. "Big Three" motor vehicle corporations (General Motors, Ford and Chrysler) produced the overwhelming majority of cars and light trucks sold in the United States, and directly employed many people themselves. By 2003, most passenger cars sold in the U. S. market were either imported or manufactured by foreign-based producers at new North American plants (so-called "transplant" facilities). The Big Three now dominate only in light trucks, and are also now being challenged there by the foreign brands. The Big Three have shed about 600,000 U. S. jobs since 1980, while about one-quarter of Americans employed in automotive manufacturing (nearly 300,000) work for the foreign-owned companies. It is clear that the U. S. automotive industry has undergone many drastic changes that have had a net adverse effect on American interests. This book examines the causes of these changes. Congressional acts, increasingly stringent emission laws, the effects of NAFTA, labour unions and globalisation are all within the scope of this book.

This book examines the recent performance of the US steel industry and related policy issues, including the Bush Administration Section 201 initiative and measures in Congress addressing other aspects of problems in the steel industry. The question of 'legacy costs' has emerged as a key issue amid efforts to improve conditions within the US steel industry. Legacy costs are pension and health care benefit provisions of steel worker contracts, especially for retirees, which provide benefits above and beyond related public entitlements and which are funded by earnings of steel companies. This new book describes the issue, with some statistical data included.