Contributor: Brett Linton

The amount of finished steel available to the US market rose 1% from March to April, according to SMU calculations on Department of Commerce and the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) data.

Crude oil prices are forecast to ease slightly through the remainder of the year, while natural gas prices are expected to move higher following recent lows

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, SMU polled steel buyers on an array of topics, ranging from market prices, demand, and inventories to imports and evolving market events.

US sheet prices continued to tick down this week as supply seems to outweigh demand, and deep discounts are not only for large-ton buys.

Total steel exports rebounded 6% in April, rising to 842,000 short tons (st) according to the latest US Department of Commerce data.

Domestic raw steel production eased last week, falling from an eight-week high down to a four-week low, according to the latest release by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

S drill rig activity held steady last week, remaining near two-year lows according to the latest update from Baker Hughes

The Chicago Business Barometer tumbled lower in May, now at the lowest measure recorded since May 2020 according to Market News International (MNI) and the Institute for Supply Management (ISM).

We have highlighted a few significant moment in steel history in our last few Final Thoughts crosswords. This week we decided to dedicate the entire crossword to history.

Steel imports jumped from March to April and are looking nearly as strong for May, according to updated Census data released earlier this week.

Earlier this week, SMU polled steel buyers on an array of topics, ranging from market prices, demand, and inventories to imports and evolving market chatter.

Sheet prices slipped again this week on a combination of moderate demand, increased imports, and higher import volumes.

US drill rig activity eased further last week, receding to levels last seen at the start of 2022 according to the latest update from Baker Hughes

Steelmaking raw material prices have moved in different directions over the past month, according to SMU’s latest analysis.

Steel Market Update will be taking time off in observance of Memorial Day.

Lead times on most steel products tracked by SMU held steady or contracted this week compared to two weeks earlier, according to our latest market survey.

The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Deltek indicated architecture firm billings remained soft through April

Global steel output in April fell 3.1% from March’s 10-month high, according to World Steel Association’s (worldsteel) latest release.

From integrated to EAF, from hot-dipped galv to cold-rolled sheet, to the reputable vacuum tank degasser, the steel industry definitely has its own jargon. And we know our readers know that lingo backwards and forwards. Rather than test you on it, we thought we'd do something different.

Steel prices eased for both sheet and plate products this week, according to our latest canvass of the market

Big River Steel (BRS) made upward revisions to most of its galvanized coating extras this week, with new extras going into effect July 6.

Domestic raw steel production continued to ramp up through last week, now up to a six-week high according to the latest release by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

US housing starts ticked up through April following March’s dip, according to the latest data release from the US Census Bureau.

Drilling activity ticked up in the US but declined in Canada during the week ended May 17, according to the latest release from Baker Hughes.

SMU had the pleasure of attending the American Iron and Steel Institute's (AISI's) annual general meeting in Washington this week. It was a slow week in our nation's capital, so we were able to take a leisurely stroll around the National Mall and take in the sights. Just kidding. In fact, the meeting coincided with significant trade actions announced by the Biden administration. It included, among other things, additional tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum.

US hot-rolled (HR) coil prices saw further declines this week, while foreign prices were steady to slightly higher in the three regions we monitor

New York state continues to see deteriorating manufacturing business conditions through May, according to the latest Empire State Manufacturing Survey

Steel prices were overall mixed this week, according to our latest check on the market. Sheet prices were flat to down, while plate prices inched up. SMU indices on hot rolled, cold rolled, and galvanized are now down to the lowest levels seen since November.

Domestic raw steel production ticked up again last week, now up to a three-week high according to the latest data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

Shipments of heating and cooling equipment jumped in March, the second month in a row we have seen a significant increase, according to the latest data released from the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).