Steel Dynamics reported that Q3 net income of $12.8 million on net sales of $1.7 billion fell drastically compared to Q3 2011 earnings of $43.3 million on sales of $2 billion. Income fell even more compared to Q2 2012 when earnings totaled $44.5 million. In the nine months ended September 30, 2012 net income was $103.0 million, on net sales of $ 5.6 billion. By comparison, in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 net income was $247.9 million on net sales of $ 6.1 billion.
"Relative to overall market demand, our operating performance was commendable for the third quarter," Chief Executive Officer Mark Millett said in commenting on the results. "The US market in general remains tepid, as uncertainty surrounding the strength of Europe, growth in China, and the near-term US economic and political environment continues to weigh heavily on customers' purchasing decisions. Aside from our fabrication operations, this reluctance in customer buying resulted in reduced selling volumes across our major operating platforms.
The average selling price per ton shipped decreased $45 per ton to $809, and the average ferrous scrap cost per ton melted decreased $44. As the combined steel metal spread was generally consistent quarter over quarter, reduced profitability was largely a function of decreased volume and product mix changes.
Despite lower volumes and selling values in the company's metals recycling business, ferrous metal spreads expanded 23 percent in Q3, as compared to Q2 2012. Operating income for OmniSource increased $11.5 million sequentially to $16.6 million for Q3 2012 as compared to $5.1 million in the prior quarter.
"Within our metals recycling platform, despite a challenging environment that resulted in decreased volumes," continued Millett, "ferrous operating margins improved significantly, as metal spreads expanded 23 percent and initiatives to reduce operating expenses were achieved, resulting in operating income of $16.6 million in the third quarter, compared to $5.1 million in the second quarter of this year. The ferrous scrap market continues to be oversupplied, as the export market and US steel mill utilization rates have moderated. However, we believe an inflection point has been reached and ferrous scrap pricing is likely near a bottom."
Looking forward, Millett cautioned that volumes could once again be challenged in Q4 as "fluctuations in immediate customer needs and hesitancy for customers to carry inventory persists. Ferrous scrap pricing fell further in October, which could challenge our metals recycling operations, while benefiting our steel operations early in the fourth quarter."