CONVENT — Nucor Corporation announced Wednesday its direct reduced iron plant in Convent will resume operations by the end of January.

The plant temporarily suspended production at the end of 2015 for planned maintenance. At that time, the company halted production based on market conditions. Changes in the raw materials market led to restarting plant operations, the company announced.

Nucor manufacturers steel products, with operating facilities in the U.S., Canada and other locations. Products produced include steel piling, steel joists, steel deck, carbon and alloy steel in bars and many others. Company officials said Nucor is North America’s largest recycler.

In March 2014, Gov. Bobby Jindal and Nucor CEO John Ferriola dedicated the company’s completed direct-reduced iron plant in St. James Parish.

The $750 million plant, located in Convent, is the first of a potential five-phase project in the parish. The company began operating the DRI plant in late December 2013.

Nucor created 170 jobs.

Nucor, the nation’s largest steelmaker, suffered a setback in September 2013 when a dome storing iron oxide pellets at the Convent facility collapsed. Production recovered; however, “and has continued at planned ramp-up levels since that time,” the Charlotte, N.C., company said in a press release.