Still, the projected earnings came in lower than analysts’ estimates and the company’s stock fell Monday.
AK Steel is headquartered in West Chester Twp., and operates a steel plant in Middletown.
The company, one of the region’s largest by revenues, said it expects net income of 4 cents to 6 cents per share for the second quarter, which ends June 30.
AK Steel plans to release its second quarter results July 24.
In the first quarter of this year, the steelmaker reported a net loss of approximately $11.8 million.
This quarter the company expects slightly higher steel shipments, higher operating rates and lower raw material costs compared to the first quarter, AK Steel said.
Steelmakers have struggled this year as a result of global economic uncertainty an influx of cheaper imported steel products.
As a result of heightened uncertainty and volatility surrounding economic conditions in the U.S. and other markets, AK Steel said it couldn’t provide a profit prediction for the rest of 2012. AK Steel shares closed Monday at $5.17, down 15 cents, or 2.8 percent.
The company also said Monday that it may be able to obtain iron ore pellets from its Magnetation LLC joint venture earlier than 2015, as it had previously predicted. And AK Steel said that it is optimistic that it is ahead of schedule to produce coal from its AK Coal Resources Inc. subsidiary, which is in the process of developing its mining operations.