Join AWMI and SMU for a Community Chat webinar on steel AND aluminum

The webinar will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 11 am ET. You can learn more and register here. (Btw, you don’t have to be an AWMI member or an SMU subscriber to attend.)

We’ll also talk about what we’re seeing and hearing down in the trenches – including highlights from our latest survey data. And we’ll take your questions too, so make sure to bring some good ones to the Q&A. We’ll keep it to about 45 minutes, so you can tune in, learn something – and then get on with your day.

What we’ll talk about

On the steel side, prices have soared amid panic buying after a slow start to the year. The sharp gains come on the heels of increased scrap costs and the potential for punitive tariffs – including against the United States’ traditional allies and trading partners.

The measures include a more stringent Section 232, potential blanket tariffs of 25% on Canada and Mexico, reciprocal tariffs on VATs, and even 25% tariffs on cars and trucks. (Not to mention the AD/CVD trade case on coated products.) Increased domestic capacity could help offset a potential supply squeeze. But how is underlying demand?

When it comes to aluminum, Trump’s tariffs are even more disruptive – with S232 going from 10% to 25% and now applying to all countries with no exemptions. On top of that, the tariffs have been expanded beyond raw aluminum to include semis and processed aluminum products. This is going to hit the supply chains hard, and in some ways, it has already.

Another challenge comes from the rise of AI, which could send energy demand and electricity rates soaring.

Speakers

SMU Editor-in-Chief Michael Cowden will be joined by Senior Editor Gabriella Vagnini and Senior Consultant Greg Wittbecker. (Both Gabriella and Greg are aluminum industry veterans.)

Editor’s note

SMU is expanding from our traditional steel markets into aluminum too. We’re thrilled to be able to bring you experts who can speak to both ferrous and nonferrous markets. Stayed tuned to SMU for more coverage in that space.