Mark Millett, Chief Executive Officer of Steel Dynamics, said at a conference that the company has greatly decreased its prime scrap use at its Butler and Columbus plants from the previous 60-65% to 30-34% as a way to reduce costs.

Millett said Steel Dynamics has reduced the copper and nickel content in its shredded scrap supply with technology, replacing traditional prime scrap, which might be in a shortage in the future.

Steel Dynamics aims to be self-sufficient in pig iron within the next two to four years, and the strategic joint venture formed with Aymium, a leading producer of renewable biocarbon products, will build a facility with an annual capacity of biocarbon of more than 160,000 tons reduce fossil fuel carbon sources used in SDI's steelmaking processes.