Optima Steel International (Optima) started steel marketing and distribution services in 1997 as part of Oxbow Carbon & Minerals, a leading global producer, marketer, and distributor of raw materials to both the domestic and international communities. While concentrating on West Coast opportunities, the company developed and perfected a unique business model, and thus experienced dramatic growth at the start of 2000. As the company grew, the natural next step was to separate the steel marketing and distribution activities from the carbon and minerals business, allowing each entity to focus on their core competencies. In 2006, Oxbow Steel International was formed, becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Oxbow Group
