Record Steel Prices Inject Life Into Long-Suffering Industry Jul 18 2021, 8:19 AM July 18 2021, 5:30 AM July 18 2021, 8:19 AM (Bloomberg) -- Thereâs rarely been a better time to be in the steel business. (Bloomberg) -- Thereâs rarely been a better time to be in the steel business. Prices have boomed worldwide this year, smashing record after record. Roaring industrial demand is propelling those rallies, with plants straining to boost supply after lying dormant during the pandemic. On top of that, powerhouses China and Russia are trying to limit exports to help other industries at home. âIf youâd asked me six months ago what was my most positive vision for the first half of 2021, I donât think I wouldâve even come close to the reality,â Carlo Beltrame, who manages Romania and France for AFV Beltrame, said in a phone interview. The closely-held company plans to build a 250 million-euro ($295 million) mill in Romania with the capacity to produce about 600,000 tons a year.