December 1, 2008 Russel Metals Inc. Completes the Acquisition of Norton Metal Products, Inc. TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 1, 2008) - Russel Metals Inc. (TSX:RUS) announced today that it completed the acquisition of Norton Metal Products, Inc. ("Norton") on November 28, 2008. On November 10, 2008 Russel Metals announced that it had entered into a stock purchase agreement to acquire 100% of the outstanding capital stock of Norton, a U.S. metals service center located in Fort Worth, Texas. Russel Metals is one of the largest metals distribution companies in North America. It carries on business in three distribution segments: metals service centers, energy tubular products and steel distributors, under various names including Russel Metals, A.J. Forsyth, Acier Leroux, Acier Loubier, Acier Richler, Arrow Steel Processors, B&T Steel, Baldwin International, Comco Pipe and Supply, Fedmet Tubulars, JMS Russel Metals, Leroux Steel, McCabe Steel, M�gantic M�tal, M�taux Russel, M�taux Russel Produits Sp�cialis�s, Milspec Industries, Pioneer Pipe, Russel Metals Specialty Products, Russel Metals Williams Bahcall, Spartan Steel Products, Sunbelt Group, Triumph Tubular & Supply, Wirth Steel and York-Ennis.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Russel Metals Inc. Marion E. Britton, C.A. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (905) 819-7407 Email: info@russelmetals.com Website: www.russelmetals.com INDUSTRY: Manufacturing and Production - Mining and Metals