<PAGE>

                                                                      Exhibit 24



                         INLAND STEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY



     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, the undersigned, as a director
and(or) officer of Inland Steel Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, do
hereby nominate, constitute and appoint Robert J. Darnall, Jay M. Gratz, Vicki
L. Avril and Charles B. Salowitz, or any one or more of them, my true and lawful
attorneys and agents to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary
or advisable to enable said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the
preparation and filing of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of said Inland Steel
Industries, Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, including
specifically, but without limitation thereof, full power and authority to sign
my name as a director and(or) officer of said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to
said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any amendment thereto, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them, shall do or cause
to be done by virtue thereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this  6th    day of
                                                          -------
February, 1997.



                                              A. Robert Abboud
                                              ------------------------------
<PAGE>

                         INLAND STEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY



     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, the undersigned, as a director
and(or) officer of Inland Steel Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, do
hereby nominate, constitute and appoint Robert J. Darnall, Jay M. Gratz, Vicki
L. Avril and Charles B. Salowitz, or any one or more of them, my true and lawful
attorneys and agents to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary
or advisable to enable said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the
preparation and filing of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of said Inland Steel
Industries, Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, including
specifically, but without limitation thereof, full power and authority to sign
my name as a director and(or) officer of said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to
said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any amendment thereto, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them, shall do or cause
to be done by virtue thereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this  10th    day of
                                                          --------
February, 1997.



                                              James W. Cozad
                                              ------------------------------
<PAGE>

                         INLAND STEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY



     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, the undersigned, as a director
and(or) officer of Inland Steel Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, do
hereby nominate, constitute and appoint Robert J. Darnall, Jay M. Gratz, Vicki
L. Avril and Charles B. Salowitz, or any one or more of them, my true and lawful
attorneys and agents to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary
or advisable to enable said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the
preparation and filing of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of said Inland Steel
Industries, Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, including
specifically, but without limitation thereof, full power and authority to sign
my name as a director and(or) officer of said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to
said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any amendment thereto, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them, shall do or cause
to be done by virtue thereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this  4th    day of
                                                          -------
February, 1997.



                                              Robert J. Darnall
                                              ------------------------------
<PAGE>

                         INLAND STEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY



     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, the undersigned, as a director
and(or) officer of Inland Steel Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, do
hereby nominate, constitute and appoint Robert J. Darnall, Jay M. Gratz, Vicki
L. Avril and Charles B. Salowitz, or any one or more of them, my true and lawful
attorneys and agents to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary
or advisable to enable said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the
preparation and filing of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of said Inland Steel
Industries, Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, including
specifically, but without limitation thereof, full power and authority to sign
my name as a director and(or) officer of said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to
said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any amendment thereto, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them, shall do or cause
to be done by virtue thereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this  10th  day of
                                                          ------
February, 1997.



                                              James A. Henderson
                                              ------------------------------
<PAGE>

                         INLAND STEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY



     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, the undersigned, as a director
and(or) officer of Inland Steel Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, do
hereby nominate, constitute and appoint Robert J. Darnall, Jay M. Gratz, Vicki
L. Avril and Charles B. Salowitz, or any one or more of them, my true and lawful
attorneys and agents to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary
or advisable to enable said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the
preparation and filing of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of said Inland Steel
Industries, Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, including
specifically, but without limitation thereof, full power and authority to sign
my name as a director and(or) officer of said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to
said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any amendment thereto, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them, shall do or cause
to be done by virtue thereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this  5th  day of
                                                          -----
February, 1997.



                                              Robert B. McKersie
                                              ------------------------------
<PAGE>

                         INLAND STEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY



     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, the undersigned, as a director
and(or) officer of Inland Steel Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, do
hereby nominate, constitute and appoint Robert J. Darnall, Jay M. Gratz, Vicki
L. Avril and Charles B. Salowitz, or any one or more of them, my true and lawful
attorneys and agents to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary
or advisable to enable said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the
preparation and filing of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of said Inland Steel
Industries, Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, including
specifically, but without limitation thereof, full power and authority to sign
my name as a director and(or) officer of said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to
said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any amendment thereto, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them, shall do or cause
to be done by virtue thereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this  7th  day of
                                                          -----
February, 1997.



                                              Leo F. Mullin
                                              ------------------------------

<PAGE>

                         INLAND STEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY



     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, the undersigned, as a director
and(or) officer of Inland Steel Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, do
hereby nominate, constitute and appoint Robert J. Darnall, Jay M. Gratz, Vicki
L. Avril and Charles B. Salowitz, or any one or more of them, my true and lawful
attorneys and agents to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary
or advisable to enable said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the
preparation and filing of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of said Inland Steel
Industries, Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, including
specifically, but without limitation thereof, full power and authority to sign
my name as a director and(or) officer of said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to
said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any amendment thereto, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them, shall do or cause
to be done by virtue thereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this  5th  day of
                                                          -----
February, 1997.



                                              Donald S. Perkins
                                              ------------------------------
<PAGE>

                         INLAND STEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY



     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, the undersigned, as a director
and(or) officer of Inland Steel Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, do
hereby nominate, constitute and appoint Robert J. Darnall, Jay M. Gratz, Vicki
L. Avril and Charles B. Salowitz, or any one or more of them, my true and lawful
attorneys and agents to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary
or advisable to enable said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the
preparation and filing of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of said Inland Steel
Industries, Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, including
specifically, but without limitation thereof, full power and authority to sign
my name as a director and(or) officer of said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to
said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any amendment thereto, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them, shall do or cause
to be done by virtue thereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this  10th  day of
                                                          ------
February, 1997.



                                              Jean-Pierre Rosso
                                              ------------------------------
<PAGE>

                         INLAND STEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY



     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, the undersigned, as a director
and(or) officer of Inland Steel Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, do
hereby nominate, constitute and appoint Robert J. Darnall, Jay M. Gratz, Vicki
L. Avril and Charles B. Salowitz, or any one or more of them, my true and lawful
attorneys and agents to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary
or advisable to enable said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the
preparation and filing of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of said Inland Steel
Industries, Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, including
specifically, but without limitation thereof, full power and authority to sign
my name as a director and(or) officer of said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to
said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any amendment thereto, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them, shall do or cause
to be done by virtue thereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this  13th  day of
                                                          ------
February, 1997.



                                              Joshua I. Smith
                                              ------------------------------
<PAGE>

                         INLAND STEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY



     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, the undersigned, as a director
and(or) officer of Inland Steel Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, do
hereby nominate, constitute and appoint Robert J. Darnall, Jay M. Gratz, Vicki
L. Avril and Charles B. Salowitz, or any one or more of them, my true and lawful
attorneys and agents to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary
or advisable to enable said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the
preparation and filing of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of said Inland Steel
Industries, Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, including
specifically, but without limitation thereof, full power and authority to sign
my name as a director and(or) officer of said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to
said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any amendment thereto, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them, shall do or cause
to be done by virtue thereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this  6th  day of
                                                          -----
February, 1997.



                                              Nancy H. Teeters
                                              ------------------------------
<PAGE>

                         INLAND STEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY



     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, the undersigned, as a director
and(or) officer of Inland Steel Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, do
hereby nominate, constitute and appoint Robert J. Darnall, Jay M. Gratz, Vicki
L. Avril and Charles B. Salowitz, or any one or more of them, my true and lawful
attorneys and agents to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary
or advisable to enable said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the
preparation and filing of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of said Inland Steel
Industries, Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, including
specifically, but without limitation thereof, full power and authority to sign
my name as a director and(or) officer of said Inland Steel Industries, Inc. to
said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any amendment thereto, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them, shall do or cause
to be done by virtue thereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this  9th  day of
                                                          -----
February, 1997.



                                              Arnold R. Weber
                                              ------------------------------