US Steel May Consider 'Acquisition Opportunities'

US Steel May Consider 'Acquisition Opportunities'. US Steel says it will continue to "assess North American and international expansion and divestment opportunities" in 2010, according to a recent filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. "We may consider 100% acquisition opportunities, joint ventures and other arrangements," the company said in the filing, seen by Steel Business Briefing. The Pittsburgh-based steelmaker also said in the document that flatrolled results for the current quarter "are expected to improve from fourth quarter 2009." It did not say by how much, however. "Average realized prices are expected to increase from fourth quarter 2009, as we expect to begin realizing the impact of increasing spot market prices later in the first quarter," the company said. "We are currently making steel at six of our seven North American steelmaking locations, with the exception being our Lake Erie Works, which represents approximately 10% of our annual flatrolled raw steel capability. "We expect to complete maintenance work on our largest blast furnace, the No 14 blast furnace at Gary Works, late in the first quarter and have all available capacity in operation at these six locations before the end of the quarter." USS added that overall Q1 raw steel capability utilization rates are expected to increase from Q4, as well.