U.S. steel and aluminum producers are expanding their operations to meet growing demand for automotive, industrial and data center projects.
Here are a few recent industry updates.
Entergy to power Hyundai Steel-Posco plant in Louisiana
Entergy has agreed to provide electric services for Hyundai Steel and Posco’s electric arc furnace mill coming to Donaldsonville, Louisiana.
The agreement, signed April 30, ensures power to support the manufacturing site and its long-term energy needs. The project, announced in March 2025, is Hyundai Motor Group’s first steelmaking venture in North America with a focus on the automotive sector. Posco became a 20% stakeholder in the project through a $582 million investment deal in December.
“Reliable, affordable and forward-looking energy service is essential to our vision, and Entergy’s partnership gives us the confidence to invest boldly in Louisiana,” Chul Soon Jang, Hyundai-Posco Steel president, said in a statement.
The 1,800-acre site is expected to create more than 1,300 jobs and support thousands of indirect jobs in the region, according to Louisiana’s economic development agency.
Inking a power deal is an important step for steel producers bringing more capacity online. Century Aluminum and Emirates Global Aluminum announced plans to build a massive $4 billion smelter in Inola, Oklahoma, at the start of 2026, and are still searching for an energy provider as of May 18.
Pittsburgh aluminum producer to expand Norway foundry
Aluminum producer Alcoa will invest $65 million to expand production at its Mosjøen, Norway, smelter, the Pittsburgh-based company said May 11.
The investment would allow the smelter to use post-consumer recycled content during the casting process for the first time. The move was partly due to shifting demand for low-carbon aluminum products from automotive and packaging customers.
Alcoa has invested $180 million in the Norway smelter since 2020. The additional investment will expand and upgrade the Mosjøen casthouse, increasing production capacity by up to 75,000 metric tons, according to a news release.
“The increased capacity, combined with recycling capabilities, positions Mosjøen as a cornerstone of low-carbon aluminum across Europe,” Alcoa CEO William Oplinger said in a statement.
Mosjøen is one of the largest industrial employers in Northern Norway, employing more than 700 workers, and a key part of Europe’s aluminum supply chain.
The project is set to be completed in phases, with plans to ramp up through 2028.
Alabama’s largest steel subcontractor breaks ground on headquarters
FabArc Steel Supply, Inc., broke ground on its corporate headquarters in Oxford, Alabama, on May 11.
The 25,000-square-foot site will house administrative and fabrication support functions, including multiple conference rooms and meeting spaces, according to a news release. It is also designed to have a courtyard, gym, recreational areas and other amenities.
“By bringing our teams together in a modern purpose-built space, we are creating an environment that supports collaboration, efficiency and continued growth,” FabArc CEO Tom Adams said in a statement.
Construction began this month and is expected to finish in the next 12 to 14 months.
FabArc, founded in 1979, is considered Alabama’s largest steel subcontractor, with two manufacturing plants and a total fabricating area of more than 275,000 square feet, according to its website.
The company has worked on a range of construction projects, including Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner plane assembly operations in Charleston, South Carolina; Toyota’s paint shop in Huntsville, Alabama; and Global Foundries’ chip production facility in Malta, New York.
Its current production capacity is over 40,000 tons of steel annually.
