Nucor Announces Promotion of Rex Query to President of Nucor Europe

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) announced the promotion of Rex Query to the position of President of Nucor Europe, a new senior management position, effective June 1, 2008. Query will be responsible for Nucor's growth initiatives in Europe and will report to the CEO. He will be based at Nucor Europe's offices in Switzerland. Nucor recently announced two major European investments. A definitive agreement has been signed with Duferco to establish Duferdofin-Nucor, of which Nucor will own 50%. Duferdofin-Nucor will produce beams in Italy and distribute beams in Europe and North Africa. Also, Nucor has signed a memorandum of understanding with Sidenor S.A. to purchase 34% of a joint venture for the production and distribution of long steel products and plate in the Balkans, Turkey, Cyprus and North Africa. By the end of 2008, these two European joint ventures will have a combined annual steel production capacity of nearly five million tons.

Query, 42, joined Nucor in 1990 and has been a Vice President of Nucor since 2002. He has been General Manager of Nucor's sheet mill in Decatur, Alabama since July 2003. Query served as General Manager of Nucor Steel Auburn, Inc. from the time it was acquired by Nucor in April 2001 to July 2003. Previous positions held by Query also include corporate controller at Nucor's headquarters in Charlotte, as well as controller positions at two Nucor steel mill divisions and a Vulcraft division.

Commenting on Query's new assignment, Nucor Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer Dan DiMicco said, "Rex is a proven Nucor leader. With his strong leadership skills and 'Can Do' attitude, I have the highest confidence in his ability to lead the Nucor team to a strong record of profitable growth in Europe. We are looking forward to an extremely bright future for Nucor and our partners in Europe as we grow together. Our two recently announced joint ventures are only the beginning of Nucor's presence in the European market."

Nucor and affiliates are manufacturers of steel products, with operating facilities primarily in the U.S. and Canada. Products produced include: carbon and alloy steel -- in bars, beams, sheet and plate; steel joists and joist girders; steel deck; fabricated concrete reinforcing steel; cold finished steel; steel fasteners; metal building systems; light gauge steel framing; steel grating and expanded metal; and wire and wire mesh. Nucor, through The David J. Joseph Company, also brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron and HBI/DRI; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and non ferrous scrap. Nucor is North America's largest recycler.

Certain statements contained in this news release are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. Factors that might cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements are outlined in Nucor's regulatory filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those in Nucor's December 31, 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of this date, and Nucor does not assume any obligation to update them.

SOURCE Nucor Corporation