This article originally comes from Business Xpansion on April 14, 2025
The St. Louis region ranks second in the United States for minerals and ores exports, primarily including metals and metal products. The availability of economically viable rare earth elements coupled with unparalleled transportation access and skilled workforce, is credited with attracting investment and contributing to the 39.3% increase in iron and steel mill employment experienced in the last five years. The St. Louis region is home to major employers such as Wieland, Alton Steel, Inc. (ASI), U.S. Steel, Roberson Machine Company, Alro Steel, Heintz Steel and Manufacturing Co., Arch Metals, and Samuel Missouri Metals. Much of the industry is growing as some of these companies continue to make significant investments in the bi-state area, while others are beefing up and stabilizing their workforce as operations continue to rebound from the COVID-19 dip and other economic factors.
Wieland, a leading global supplier of high-quality copper and copper alloy solutions, is expanding its operations in the St. Louis region, investing $500 million in a new facility that broke ground in early March. The expansion will retain 800 jobs in this robust sector of the region’s economy. This investment underscores the strength of the metals sector, as Wieland, which manufactures crucial products for the burgeoning electric vehicle industry, contributes to the nearly 16,000 skilled metals industry workers in the area. The company also makes parts for construction, munitions, coinage and electronics, has recycling facilities in Granite City and produces welded copper tubes in Cuba, Missouri.
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