CANTON – Stark County-based steel manufacturer Metallus reported $304.6 million in net sales during the second quarter — approximately a 9% increase from the first quarter of this year and a 3.3% increase from the second quarter of last year.

The growth was attributed to an increase in raw material surcharges and greater shipments, particularly in the aerospace and defense, automotive and energy markets. CEO Michael Williams credited President Donald Trump's tariffs for helping in part to reduce imports and spur domestic demand in the energy and automotive sectors.

"As we mentioned last quarter, we are continuing to see increased customer inquiries driven by tariff-related onshoring," he said.

Company leaders later said that inquiries related to tariffs have not consistently resulted in orders because many larger, steel-consuming companies wait to see what the Trump administration does long-term. They also recognized an influx of imports before the expected tariffs.

Second-quarter net income totaled $3.7 million or $0.09 per share. That compares to a net income of $1.3 million in the first quarter of this year and $4.6 million in the second quarter of last year.

"Looking ahead to the second half of the year, we're well-positioned to support customer requirements while continuing to advance key manufacturing initiatives, entering into labor contract negotiations in the coming weeks, and preparing for our annual shutdown maintenance," Williams said in a prepared statement.

"While these efforts are expected to have a short-term cost impact, they reflect our commitment to strengthening operations, investing in our people, and driving long-term value."

Highlights from the second-quarter presentation include:

The company is on track to invest $5 million in safety prevention and reported no serious injury incidents so far this year.

Metallus received $5.1 million from the U.S. Army during the second quarter and $71.5 million of government funding since last year's announcement of a $99.75 million agreement to increase munitions production.

The company will begin negotiations with the United Steelworkers this month for a labor agreement set to expire in late September. Negotiation costs are expected to be $3 to $5 million in the second half of this year.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton-based steelmaker Metallus reports increased sales