Commercial Metals Company (NYSE:CMC) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Tristan Gresser: Sorry. When you look at the steel intensity of those planned semiconductor investment over there. I know you prefer to share a number, but just wondering if in terms of still intensity for rebar, is it closer to the infrastructure figure that you provided or closer to the non-resi figure you provided?

Paul Lawrence: Yes, Tristan, we would say that it’s likely somewhere in the middle. It’s not going to be quite as intensive as the infrastructure, but I think as Barbara was alluding to. It is more intensive than the traditional non-res component.

Tristan Gresser: Okay. That’s really helpful.

Barbara Smith: Yes. And Tristan, I would — before — I don’t know if you have a follow-up, but one thing I failed to mention in our earlier conversation related to these projects, but these projects also are great projects for the application of our products that Tensar makes. And so, that’s another positive indicator for growth in that product line as well.

Tristan Gresser: Got it. And maybe just a second question, a general question, a bit more bigger picture. You kind of have a unique position by being involved in the construction market in the U.S. but also in Europe. And we’ve seen the U.S. really putting a lot of policies in place to support non-residential activity. And now we’re starting to see a little bit of a response on the European side as well with pieces of legislation that came out over the past two weeks. Having this footprint in both regions, are you able to convert the level of political support in both of those regions? And how do you compare that?

Barbara Smith: Yes, that’s a great observation. And as I indicated in my opening remarks, we are very encouraged by the activity in Poland to support the residential market in terms of this interest rate help that they’re going to provide to first time homebuyers. And so I think that’s a real positive sign. And I’m encouraged that other parts of Europe are looking at this issue and trying to find ways to lend support. And I think the EU is, of course, further behind than what we’re seeing here in the U.S. because, for example, the chips act was approved last year and now we’re starting to see the green shoots from that and we haven’t even talked about wind and solar, which will be big beneficiaries of that and that is a piece of the market that plays really well to our sweet spot.

But I would say this in Europe, the energy transition, there already has been a lot of talk about country and legislative support to assist with the transition, which is going to involve significant investment in existing facilities, in new technologies and green energy and all of that. So I think it’s coming over there. It’s just — there have been some obvious unexpected impacts that have been kind of overshadowing in Europe when the invasion occurred last year.

Tristan Gresser: Okay. Thank you very much.

Barbara Smith: Thank you, Tristan.

Operator: And our next question will come from Phil Gibbs with KeyBanc Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Philip Gibbs: Hey, good morning.

Barbara Smith: Good morning, Phil.

Philip Gibbs: As it relates to (ph), clearly very exciting and groundbreaking and ramping. What are the expectations over the next few quarters for volume? And how should we be thinking about the evolution of that facility in the next year?

Barbara Smith: Thanks, Phil. Yes, we are really excited as you follow this industry and there have been a number of greenfield projects and no surprise the supply chain challenges that have affected any business. So we are so proud to be really completing and commissioning according to our original schedule. And I need to make a shout out again to the team out there because they have just moved heaven and earth to overcome all the various challenges in supply chain, et cetera. In terms of the commissioning and the ramp, I’d like to say the following. We as you know have a lot of experience since this is our third micro mill. And so, we would expect for rebar that the ramp up cycle will follow a similar sort of curve to our other facilities.