Oregon Trade Mission Strengthens Global Links — and McMinnville’s Steel Industry
Nov 14, 2025
Governor Kotek Meets the New Owners of McMinnville’s Steel Mill
Governor Tina Kotek recently led a trade mission to South Korea and Japan (Oct 23–30, 2025), highlighting Oregon’s global connections in advanced manufacturing, sustainability, and investment.
During her visit to Japan, Governor Kotek met with Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC), which acquired Radius Recycling—the parent company of Cascade Steel Rolling Mills in McMinnville—in July 2025.
🏭 McMinnville’s Global Connection: Cascade Steel Rolling Mills
- Parent Company: Radius Recycling (formerly Schnitzer Steel Industries)
- New Owner: Toyota Tsusho America, Inc. (TAI), a U.S. subsidiary of Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) — part of the Toyota Group
- Acquisition Details: Completed July 2025 | Value ≈ $1.34 billion
- Employees: 380 (40 % McMinnville residents; 280 union jobs)
- Operations: One of two Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steel mills on the West Coast
- Products: High-quality rebar and wire rod made from recycled scrap metal
- Sustainability: Powered by renewable energy — producing low-carbon steel with a significantly smaller footprint
🔄 Shared Vision for Sustainable Manufacturing
Radius Recycling and Toyota Tsusho share a mission to advance the circular economy through metals recovery and sustainable production.
Their partnership will:
- Expand access to recycled materials for the automotive sector
- Invest in next-generation recycling technologies
- Accelerate decarbonization and closed-loop manufacturing
- Support local jobs, safety, and community engagement
💼 Economic Impact in Yamhill County
- 3rd largest private employer in McMinnville
- Regional impact: 5,589 jobs | $334 M payroll | $1.565 B economic output
- Annual PILOT to City: $1.5 M
- Economic multiplier: Each traded-sector job supports ≈ 2.5 local jobs
🌿 Community & Sustainability Commitment
Radius Recycling was named one of the Most Sustainable Companies in the World (Corporate Knights, 2023).
Cascade Steel continues to be an active community partner, supporting:
- YCAP Food Bank Drive (11,139 meals in 2024)
- MEDP Investor Circle and Chamber of Commerce Member
- Rotary Tice Park development
- Kids on the Block afterschool program
🚀 Looking Ahead
With Toyota Tsusho’s global reach and financial strength, Radius Recycling is poised to:
- Expand Cascade Steel’s low-carbon production capacity
- Modernize the Pick-N-Pull auto-parts network
- Grow its 3PR™ industrial recycling services
- Reinforce McMinnville’s role in Oregon’s manufacturing base
✳️ Why It Matters
The Governor’s meeting with Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) highlights McMinnville’s role in Oregon’s global manufacturing economy.
This investment strengthens local jobs, advances sustainable steel production, and reinforces that McMinnville is part of a world-class industrial ecosystem — where global investment drives local prosperity.
