Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. Completes
Central Plains Steel Co. Acquisition

LOS ANGELES, CA (April 2, 2002) -- Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (NYSE:RS) announced today that it has finalized the previously announced acquisition of the business and net assets of Central Plains Steel Co., headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas. Terms were not disclosed.

As a result of this acquisition, Central Plains Steel Co., a privately held, full-line carbon steel service center company will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. Central Plains Steel Co. operates facilities in Kansas City and Wichita, Kansas, which were established in 1987 and 1981, respectively. 2001 sales were approximately $39 million for Central Plains Steel Co. Current management will continue to oversee the business.

Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.'s Chief Executive Officer, David H. Hannah said, "We are pleased to complete this acquisition that not only strengthens our market presence but also complements our existing facilities in this area of our geographic network. Central Plains is a well-run company with a strong management team. We look forward to their future contribution to our overall success."

Richard F. Owen, president of Central Plains Steel Co., said, "Both of our companies have distinguished track records in our industry and our similar management styles make this transaction a `win-win' situation for us to continue our success in the future."

Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., headquartered in Los Angeles, California, is one of the largest metals service center companies in the United States. Through a network of 90 processing and distribution centers (including American Steel, L.L.C.) in 25 states and France and South Korea, the Company provides value-added metals processing services and distributes a full line of over 85,000 metal products. These products include galvanized, hot-rolled and cold-finished steel; stainless steel; aluminum; brass; copper; titanium and alloy steel sold to more than 75,000 customers in various industries.

Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.'s press releases and additional information are available on the Company's web site at www.rsac.com. The Company was ranked No. 1 in sales and EPS growth (five-year average) in the metals industry category of the 2002 Forbes Platinum 400 List of America's Best Big Companies and was also named to the 2001 and 2000 lists.

This release may contain forward-looking statements relating to future financial results. Actual results may differ materially as a result of factors over which Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. has no control. These risk factors and additional information are included in the Company's reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.