This is largely due to an expected dip in production in the second and third quarters owing to seasonal factors and plannedmaintenance, as well as asset sales.
The capacity utilization of the flat-rolled products was 81%, and the company faced some losses in shipments in its European operations due to weaker demand and some plannedmaintenance items.
And both planned outages and unscheduled maintenance as American refineries gear up for higher demand in the spring and summer have put a crimp in supply, she said.