Producers and fabricators of long products, particularly concrete reinforcing steel, pre-stressed concrete strand and bridge steels, are sorely disappointed in the volume of economic stimulus projects leading to steel-related work.

"Most of the increase in our orders has been seasonal and not the impact of ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act). We have not seen any meaningful increase in end-user demand or any noticeable impact from the U.S. stimulus package so far," Mario Longhi, president and chief executive officer of Tampa, Fla.-based Gerdau Ameristeel Corp., said. "This is due to a combination of factors, particularly the slow pace at which the federal government is releasing funds as well as budgetary issues in many states."

Longhi also cited credit availability as a major concern for steel customers trying to quote stimulus work. "Not only is the pace of the package funding slower than anticipated nationwide, but the actual amount of dollars slated for true infrastructure projects is significantly lower than we would have hoped," he said.

His opinion is borne out by many others, especially those closer to the work: contractors and subcontractors for road, highway and bridge projects. They agree with Longhi that a large number of shovel-ready projects that would use steel are more complex and have longer lead times, and are being trumped by projects that entail smaller, quicker fixes, particularly repaving, for...