TMS International Opens Trading Offices in Brazil, US

TMS International Corp., the Glassport, Pa.-based parent company of Tube City IMS Corp., a provider of outsourced industrial services to steel mills, has opened trading offices in Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Miami; and Austin, Texas.

David Aronson, president and COO of TMS’ Raw Material and Optimization Group, says the new offices mark the company’s first formal trading group presence in Brazil and Florida. He notes that the offices are in strategic geographies from which the company can better serve both its domestic and international customers and partners.

“The opening of the office in Brazil is a key step in TMS International’s increasing globalization. We look forward to better serving Brazil’s rapidly increasing demand for raw material and steel mill services,” Aronson adds.

Leading TMS’ Brazil office is Carlos Crego as general manager of its Raw Material and Optimization Group. Crego has more than 25 years of trading experience in iron ore, pig iron and scrap. He will be responsible for trading and expanding the company’s trading operations in Brazil. Prior to joining TMS, Crego was a partner at Ironmar Exports and Logistics Ltda in Brazil. He also worked at Acesita and at Ferrobrasil Trading S.A., in Brazil.

“Carlos has a wealth of experience in trading and the steel industry, and we welcome him to the company,” Aronson says.

TMS’ new Miami office will support its offices in Brazil, as well as its office in Monterrey, Mexico and throughout Latin America. The Miami office is led by Hideto Hata, director of Outsource Purchasing and Sales for Central and South America.

Leading the Texas office will be Rick Groenert as trader. “The Texas office is integral to the company’s initiatives to expand its market in the Southwest U.S.,” Aronson says. “Rick will be responsible for strategic planning, procurement and business development in the region and will also support the company’s trading offices in Granite City, Ill.; Fairfield, Ala.; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Monterrey, Mexico. He is an experienced trader, and we are pleased to welcome him to the team.”