Mukava päivänousu tänään. Kirjoittelin aiemmin erilaisista katalyyteista, ja tullit oli yksi niistä. Toki yhden päivän nousut on mitä on, mutta minusta johto on indikoinut (erittäin) selvästi, että SSAB hyötyy USA-tulleista.
Nostin esiin jokerikorttina Naton (ja Armoxin). Minusta edelleen yllättävän vähän Armoxista puhutaan esimerkiksi earnings callseissa, toivottavasti seuraavassa enemmän. Kuitenkin noin viikko takaperin on näköjään ollut DI:ssa juttua ko. asiasta Per Hillströmin haastattelun muodossa. Voisiko viitata siihen, että merkitys kasvaa ja siitä uskalletaan jo hieman puhua vai onko enemmän markkinointihehkutusta sopivaan ajanhetkeen?
Laitoin tekoälyn tutkimaan asiaa ja mielenkiintoisesti nosti USA-kulmaa erittäin vahvasti esiin. Suolan kanssa kuten aina:
Here are the key commercial takeaways regarding Armox from the past year:
U.S. Market Expansion: A primary commercial focus was the expansion in the United States, highlighted by the April 2025 launch of local Armox 500T production in Mobile, Alabama. This aims to better serve U.S. domestic programs, offering quicker availability and shorter lead times.
Strategic Investment in U.S. Production: This U.S. expansion is backed by a significant $74 million investment to enhance the Quenched & Tempered (Q&T) steel production capacity at the Alabama facility, specifically to produce SSAB’s “most advanced products,” which includes Armox. This investment is expected to be completed in 2027.
Targeting Defense and Security Sectors: Armox is consistently positioned for the defense and security markets, with SSAB noting an anticipated increase in demand from the defense industry. The U.S. production initiative involved rigorous testing with U.S. Army research labs to meet military standards.
Growth in High-Value Special Steels: Armox is a key product within SSAB’s Special Steels division, which has shown resilient financial performance and stable pricing, underscoring the commercial importance of such premium products. The division achieved an operating margin of 20% in Q1 2025.
Dual-Market Strategy (Defense and Civilian): While defense is a core market, Armox 500T produced in the U.S. is also intended for demanding civilian applications, broadening its market base.
Strengthening Regional Supply Chains: The localization of Armox production in the U.S. is part of a broader strategy to have production facilities close to major customers in key regions like North America, enhancing supply chain resilience and mitigating trade-related risks.
Focus on Premium Product Mix: Company-wide transformation projects, including investments in Luleå and Oxelösund, aim to improve the product mix towards more profitable premium products like Armox.
Anticipated Long-Term Defense Contracts: SSAB noted that contracts within the defense industry are often long-term and financially solid, indicating a stable revenue stream for products like Armox serving this sector.