FALLS CHURCH, Va., Sep 29, 2026 — The Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) says continued investment in U.S. steelmaking capacity could strengthen the long-term supply chain for cold-formed steel (CFS) framing and support growing demand across construction.
The comments follow President Donald Trump’s announcement on September 28, 2026, that Mesabi Metallics plans to invest $15 billion in a new steelmaking complex in Iowa. The company expects the facility to begin production in 2030. It plans initial annual production of 7.5 million tons of steel, eventually increasing capacity to about 10 million tons.
“The Mesabi Metallics project is significant, and additional domestic steelmaking capacity is encouraging for U.S. manufacturing,” said Don Allen, executive director of SFIA. “In time, this investment could help strengthen the domestic supply chain that supports cold-formed steel framing.”
Additional domestic steelmaking capacity could benefit the cold-formed steel (CFS) framing supply chain over the long term, SFIA says. Photo: SFIA
Domestic Steelmaking Capacity Expands
Allen noted that the Mesabi announcement follows several years of increased investment in domestic steelmaking capacity.
“These increased capacities are important to support the on-shoring of manufacturing,” Allen said. He noted that added capacity also supports the buildout of data centers and energy infrastructure. Markets ranging from automotive and construction to packaging would benefit, he said.
“Growing North American capacity also allows more of that demand to be met by a steel industry that leads globally in reducing environmental impacts,” Allen added.
“The sizeable investment by Mesabi Metallics in the new Iowa plant and also its Nashwauk, Minnesota, iron ore mine will further boost U.S. ironmaking and steelmaking capacity, create jobs and strengthen the U.S. economy,” said Kevin Dempsey, president and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute, in a prepared statement. “Importantly, the project will rely on an integrated U.S. supply chain for mining Minnesota iron ore and transforming it into steel in America.”
Near-Term CFS Impact Remains Limited
However, SFIA cautions against assuming additional steelmaking capacity will translate directly or immediately into lower prices or greater availability for CFS framing products.
Total steelmaking capacity is only one part of the equation. CFS manufacturers depend on the availability and pricing of the specific coated steel coil products used to produce CFS framing.
For contractors bidding projects, SFIA does not view the Mesabi announcement alone as a reason to change expectations. Near-term CFS framing prices and availability depend on broader market conditions.
About SFIA
The Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA), a unique organization representing steel mills, coil coaters, stud and connector manufacturers, component fabricators, Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI) members, suppliers/distributors, contractors and others, provides members with exclusive access to technical cold-formed steel (CFS) framing services, including CFS certification, environmental product declarations, market data and analysis, technical design guides, specification review services, architectural services, the Steel Framing Learning Portal, the SFIA Awards and more. SFIA is an accredited ANSI Standards Development Organization. Follow SFIA on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Additional Resources
- CFS 101 In Practice: Real-World Examples of Project Teams Using Cold-Formed Steel
- Fire Changes Everything: Why Cold-Formed Steel Is Reshaping Housing Construction
- The State of Steel Framing (On-Demand Course)