Nucor Corporation started production at the direct reduced iron (DRI) facility in St. James Parish, Louisiana. Production of DRI began on 24 December 2013, and has continued at planned ramp-up levels since that time. The quality of material being produced in terms of both metallisation and carbon content has improved very quickly. The output quality at the facility matched the routine levels achieved at the DRI plant in Trinidad, which has been operational since 2006, within 24 hours of operation.
Nucor and affiliates are manufacturers of steel products, with operating facilities primarily in the U.S. and Canada. Nucor, through The David J. Joseph Company, also brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron and HBI/DRI; supplies ferro-alloys and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap.