Algoma Steel Group Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTL) Q2 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

Katja Jancic: Yeah that’s super helpful.Thank you for that and then just on near term costs side, given that the production level is going to be lower this quarter, how should we think about cost per ton, should they be higher or what are some of the puts and takes there?

Rajat Marwah: So it will be higher, just because of the volume.So the so the so when you look at puts and takes for the coming quarters, let’s say or the coming quarter, at least, is that the volume definitely will impact, other costs are more or less very similar, utilities might continue, which is natural gas and power with some pressure on higher pricing.So that’s how the next quarter will play out. Quarter after getting back to normal production levels, because the outages are out and then you still have the utility pressure and then you get into get into the summer months where you start getting into much normal situations.So that’s how we see the costs playing out over the next couple of quarters.

Katja Jancic: Okay. Thank you.

Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Ian Gillies with Stifel.

Ian Gillies: Hi, everyone. With respect to the plate mill modernization and new shear being installed. If I recall correctly, I think that was supposed to be done at some point during this past quarter.It sounds like it’s still ongoing. Has there been some sort of delay there impacted volumes or am I misreading the situation?

Michael Garcia: No, I think what we had mentioned before was hot commissioning was beginning in this quarter. And we’re pretty much right on schedule with that project.It is a pretty involved hot commissioning exercise and so we’re still on track as we bring up that shear into more normal production in November and then consequently in December and through the first quarter of next year.

Ian Gillies: Okay. That’s helpful and as you think about once you get past the two brief outages next year,do you have a good sense of where you think volumes are going to be post that?Or is that number still a bit influx depending on what might happen and if you do have a good idea, would you be willing to quantify it for us?

Michael Garcia: Well, I think what we’re aiming for, prior to the firstoutage in April is to roll in a 10% to 15% increase in our plate business and then building from there.The plate business, it’s a very important market segment for us. We are spending a lot of time with customers now about and it’s really kind of two pieces.It’s recovering our position at some of our historical plate customers. We had some challenging times last year with the commissioning and the startup from phase 1 of the projects.So we had a little bit of room to recover, so to speak, but we’ve made the type of improvements in quality and promised performance that we believe the customers require of us and now as we bring on more capacity steadily through next year, we’ll build our business with the quality and promised performance improvements as well as the increased flow path to handle it.

Ian Gillies: Okay. That’s helpful. Thanks Mike. If I could just squeeze in one more. With respect to what you’re seeing from your customers right now and as it pertains to the rise in HRC prices.How much of it do you think of this run is due to structurally stronger demand? And how much do you think is tied to inventories being rebuilt because I know buying had been pretty weak.I know it’s a tough question to answer, but any commentary there I think would be helpful.