Market Segment
August 18, 2023
Written by Matthew Abrams
The LME aluminum 3-month price is unchanged on the morning of August 18 and was last seen trading at $2,144 /t. A rally to an intraday high of $2,186 /t on the 17th proved again to be short-lived as almost all gains were erased by the close. This shows how strong the downward trend that started in February is.
In 2015, finished steel imports were 29% of apparent domestic consumption of steel, as estimated by AISI. In 2025, the import share had fallen to 18%. Steel lobbyists think that is progress, but the reality is more complex.
US sheet buyers have grappled with supply scarcity in both the spot and contract markets throughout 2026. Now the supply squeeze is spilling over into 2027, according to market participants.
Several steel trade organizations have called on President Trump to resist weakening Section 232 steel tariffs.
The US Commerce Department has raised the anti-dumping duties (AD) on imports of oil country tubular goods (OCTG) from South Korea.
ArcelorMittal told the government of Ukraine that it is unable to restart operations at its ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih steel plant in a “safe and sustainable manner” following Russian missile attacks.