• Skip to main content

    Market Segment

    Final Thoughts

    Written by Michael Cowden


    There had been some debate around whether mills would announce another price hike before the holidays. That debate is settled.

    Cleveland-Cliffs, one of four major sheet producers in the US, aims to increase spot prices by $50/ton, and has set a target minimum base price for HRC at $750/ton. In the style of the former AK Steel, which it acquired 2020, Cliffs made the announcement in a press release blasted out to all and sundry.

    Michael Cowden

    Read more from Michael Cowden

    Latest in Market Segment

    SDI Q3 profits soar on high steel prices, tight US market

    Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) posted sharply higher third quarter profits on the back of higher steel prices, record steel shipments, and "historically low" import volumes. The Fort Wayne, Ind.-based steelmaker said it also benefited from low customer inventories, long mill lead times, and low scrap prices. It wasn’t just a story of US trade policy suppressing imports. Demand was strong across a range of end markets, among them energy, non-residential construction, and automotive, the company said.

    Steel Dynamics announces series of leadership promotions

    Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) announced a round of leadership promotions. “I am excited to recognize these six leaders for their outstanding contributions to our company’s continued growth and success,” stated Incoming President and CEO Theresa E. Wagler. “Through their leadership, commitment to excellence, and dedication to our strategic pillars, they exemplify our culture of safety, performance, innovation, and putting people first.” William T. (Tommy) Scruggs was promoted to senior vice president, flat rolled commercial and processing. Scruggs has been with SDI since 2003 and has led the company’s Flat Roll Steel Group commercial operations since 2015.

    Cliffs posts first profit since 2024 on high steel prices, trade barriers

    Cleveland-Cliffs recorded its first profitable quarter since 2024 on higher steel prices, increased sales volumes, and trade policies supportive of US mills. The Cleveland-based steelmaker swung to a profit of $152 million in Q3’2026 compared to a loss of $251 million in the same quarter last year on revenue that rose 18.5% to $5.6 billion over the same period. Prior to Q3’2026, Cliffs had not posted a profit since Q2’24, when it recorded a profit of $2 million.

    Cliffs shifts customers to index-linked, take-or-pay contracts

    Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. expects to earn more from the repricing of contract tonnage than it previously projected. The Cleveland-based steelmaker raised its estimate for the earnings benefit of the repricing to about $850 million from about $500 million. The company also said negotiations for 2027 contracts are progressing better than expected. More than half of the 2027 renewal process was complete as of Cliffs' third-quarter earnings call on Monday morning.