Furnaces International Issue
March 2025

The March issue of Furnaces International has been published amid a background of diplomatic and political uncertainty.

Tariffs, Trump and market turmoil has dominated the news in the first quarter of the year. Once the new President of the USA tore up the rulebook on international negotiations, markets have been faced with uncertainty.

As always, there are winners and losers in this trade war. Much has been made of the impact on near-neighbours Mexico and Canada (Elbows up!).

US-based aluminium group Alcoa warned it could cost 100,000 jobs while the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) said it favoured the 25% tariffs and called for the elimination of the steel ‘Section 232 that has been exploited as a loophole by foreign producers seeking to avoid tariffs.’

Collaboration still exists in the world of furnaces. In glass the Volta project has seen competitor manufacturers Saint-Gobain and AGC unveil a hybrid furnace, while the Swedish Hybrit project is examining the use of hydrogen in steelmaking.

These partnerships are an example for the politicians who represent us to follow.