Marid Industries nurtures relationships to work through trade tensions

When faced with tariffs, this steel fabricator prioritized relationships and rebalanced its strategy to continue to deliver value to its clients.

3-minute read

Published September 12, 2025

Marid Industries is a full-service steel fabricator based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The company handles everything from design and manufacturing to on-site erection of steel structures.

With a team of 150 employees and a strong reputation for reliability, Marid has built long-standing relationships with clients across Canada and the U.S.

Clear vision in the face of trade turbulence

In March 2025, the U.S. government imposed tariffs on Canadian steel imports.

For Marid, a business that exports a portion of its production to long-time U.S. clients, the impact was immediate.

With contracts already signed and production underway, the company initially chose to absorb the cost to maintain its client relationships and avoid disrupting operations.

We’re good at making steel. But in times like these, you need to be just as good at making decisions. That means staying focused, staying informed and being willing to adapt.

From surprise to strategy

As tariff pressures intensified, Houtsma and his team took a closer look at the regulatory landscape and adjusted the company’s approach to limit the financial impact.

By learning more about legal and pricing frameworks, the company was able to make better decisions that helped reduce risks. As part of this approach, Marid Industries takes now special care to clearly itemize invoices, ensuring that charges are applied only where appropriate . The company also rebalanced its pricing strategy with U.S. clients, sharing the cost burden while maintaining transparency and trust.

Changing the way things work in order to keep working

Internally, Marid made a strategic pivot.

It paused efforts to grow its U.S. market and redirected its focus to local and provincial projects. The company also began targeting specialized work—such as bridge repairs and retrofit projects—where its expertise could deliver better margins and operational efficiency.

This shift allowed Marid to prioritize quality over volume and reduce reliance on subcontracting, which had been driving up costs and complexity.

Marid is now exploring ways to maintain its U.S. relationships through more flexible delivery models.

While no formal investment has been made, the company is evaluating options that would allow it to continue serving American clients without being exposed to the full force of tariffs.

Operational discipline and focused growth

Today, Marid’s production floor is operating at full capacity, fulfilling contracts signed months earlier.

However, the sales pipeline has slowed, and competition in Canada has intensified.

We’re doing the right work—and doing it well.

In response, the company is doubling down on its core strengths, focusing on the work it does best and the clients who value that expertise. By narrowing its focus and reinforcing its operational discipline, Marid is positioning itself for long-term resilience.

Next step

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