The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced that it is launching an investigation to determine whether certain wire rod from China, Egypt, and Vietnam are being sold at unfair prices in Canada.

A press release said that the investigation stems from a complaint filed with the CBSA by Ivaco Rolling Mills 2004 LP (Ivaco). It alleges that it has suffered from an increased volume of dumped imports from China, Egypt and Vietnam that has resulted in lost market share, lost sales, price undercutting, price depression, price suppression and a negative impact on employment, capacity utilization and financial performance.

The CBSA and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) both play a role in the investigation. The CITT will begin a preliminary inquiry to determine whether the imports are harming Canadian producers and will issue a decision by May 7, 2024. The CBSA will also investigate whether the imports are being sold in Canada at unfair prices and will make a preliminary decision by June 6, 2024. The Canadian market for wire rod has been estimated to be approximately $194 million annually.

Tri Star Metals announced that it has completed the acquisition of Centric Alloys Corp. (Centric), a specialty metals bar and wire company.

A press release said that Centric is a North American distributor and mill sourcing partner for nickel-based alloys, nickel bearing alloys, cobalt alloys and specialty stainless steels (remelted grades) in drawn wire, wire rod, and bar product forms. At its website, Centric notes that it is the largest U.S. stocking distributor and supplier of wire basket spools in North America.

“The addition of these industry experts greatly improves our ability to understand the unique demands of the defense sector and we are thrilled to welcome Centric’s current account base to the Tri Star family,” said Jim Roach, executive vice president of Tri Star Metals.

Tri Star, which is a member of the Hagener Feinstahl group of companies, has a 350,000-sq-ft manufacturing and distribution campus in Freeport, Illinois, and a West Coast Distribution facility in Phoenix, Arizona. Since 2010, it has invested more than $40 million in its mill/distribution facilities.

After nearly 20 years of growth at Centric, I am pleased to become part of the Tri Star team,” said Centric Alloys founder and President Mike Walsh.

Accent Wire Tie recently acquired Coastal Wire Company, a U.S. company founded in 1978 that specializes in fully annealed baling wire at its plant in Georgetown, South Carolina.

A press release said that Coastal Wire is the only U.S. entity that currently manufactures all baling wire products, including black-annealed coil wire, black-annealed box wire, high-tensile galvanized wire, galvanized bale tie wire, black-annealed bale ties, galvanized bale ties and the company’s proprietary product KleenGreen bale ties. The acquisition took place last December.

Based in Tomball, Texas, Accent Wire Tie notes at its website that it has the largest U.S. baling wire manufacturing and distribution network in the industry. The company has seven mills, and 21 distribution centers. Through its Wire-Tie division, Accent’s core offerings include baling wire distribution, bale tie manufacturing, wire-tier equipment manufacturing, and wire-tier parts and repair services to waste management providers, material recovery facilities, packaging companies and commercial customers throughout the U.S., Canada and the U.K.

Of note, Accent Wire Tire—along with two sister companies, itself was acquired last August by funds managed by Apollo, a deal that had been predicted by Joanna Reiss, partner and co-head of impact at Apollo. “We believe Accent is a critical supplier to the recycling industry poised for continued growth and impact, and we see several opportunities to help grow and develop the company.”