Steel Mills
October 1, 2019
Trade War Contributes to Bayou Steel's Demise
Written by Sandy Williams
Merchant bar producer Bayou Steel in LaPlace, La., closed its doors without warning on Sept. 30, putting 376 stunned employees out of work. A letter to parish and state workforce officials cited “unforeseen business circumstances” and a lack of financing as reasons for the closure.
The plant operates an electric arc furnace turning scrap metal into structural steel for the construction industry. Much of its scrap is imported, leading to speculation that the ongoing trade war with China is responsible for the company’s demise.
