Automakers continue to take downtime at assembly plants across North America because of persistent and widespread supply chain snarls. The problems include not only the microchip shortage, which has been a drag on the industry since late last year, but also broader parts shortages stemming from port congestion and from the lingering effects of severe […]
Nucor increased plate prices by $50 per ton ($2.50/cwt) in the afternoon on Friday, March 26, after SSAB had earlier in the day lifted plate tags by $100 per ton. It was not immediately clear why there was such a large difference. The steelmakers don’t always increase plate prices by the same amount, but a […]
The United Steelworkers (USW) union has informed Allegheny Technologies Inc. (ATI) that it will go on strike beginning on Tuesday, March 30. “We have provided the (strike) notice to ATI to ensure an orderly and safe shutdown of the equipment and facilities,” the union said in a bargaining update on Friday, March 26. The USW […]
SSAB Americas aims to increase plate prices by $100 per ton ($5/cwt) on all new non-contract orders, effectively immediately. The price hike applies equally to as-rolled mill plate, cut-to-length plate more than 72 inches wide, hot-rolled coils more than 72 inches wide, normalized plate, and quenched-and-tempered plate, SSAB said in a letter to customers Friday, […]
President Joe Biden will be in Pittsburgh next week to unveil his administration’s multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure spending plan. The plan will focus on both physical and technological infrastructure, the president said in a press conference. Spending on infrastructure is about both creating jobs and making the United States a more attractive place to do business, Biden […]
President Joe Biden will be in Pittsburgh next week to unveil his administration’s multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure spending plan. The plan will focus on both physical and technological infrastructure, the president said in a press conference. Spending on infrastructure is about both creating jobs and making the United States a more attractive place to do business, Biden […]
I want to write a few words today about Section 232. Not for or against it. Just some reflections on a trade action that’s been with us for a lot longer than I expected. The catalyst for that reflection was a conference call the Economic Policy Institute, a Washington policy think tank, held earlier this […]
California Steel Industries (CSI) has closed its June flat rolled order book just a week after opening it. “We want to thank you for your continued support during these difficult times. … We will contact you when we open the flat rolled order book for July,” CSI said in a letter to customers dated Wednesday, […]
Section 232 tariffs should remain in place because they backstop a stable U.S. steel industry, the benefits of which will outlast a temporary price spike, a panel of industry experts and trade union members said. “These typically last six to nine months. So we can expect that these price bubbles–and that’s really what they are–are […]
JSW Steel USA’s electric-arc furnace (EAF) and slab caster are up and running, but the company has decided to keep the plant’s hot strip mill idle, a company spokesman said. JSW’s Mingo Junction, Ohio, flat-rolled steel mill will make slabs and will “continue with outside tolling,” he added. “Right now, the hot strip mill is […]
North American auto assembly plants continue to see production hobbled by a global microchip shortage. The chip supply squeeze could become more intense because of a fire on Friday at Japanese microchip supplier Renesas Electronics. And the trouble doesn’t stop there. Parts requiring petrochemicals are in some instances in short supply because severe weather in […]
Labor talks between Allegheny Technologies Inc. (ATI) and the United Steelworkers (USW) continue – although the union has suggested the two sides are at loggerheads. The two parties most recently exchanged contract proposals on Thursday. And while USW members authorized a strike on March 5, they continue to report to work in the meantime, an ATI […]
Ford is building some vehicles in North America without certain components because the global semiconductor shortage has collided with a broader parts shortage. The automaker said it would assemble its popular F-150 pickup truck and its Edge SUV without some electronic modules because they contain “scarce semiconductors” and because of “parts shortages created by the […]
The U.S. steel market could lose one million tons of production in the months ahead because of several lengthy blast furnaces outages, and the volume of iron and steel impacted could be well over one million tons when shorter-duration electric-arc furnace (EAF) and hot strip mill outages are considered. The issue is particularly relevant because […]
AM/NS Calvert will take an approximately four-day planned outage on its hot strip mill and an approximately seven-day outage on the facility’s pickle line in May, according to sources familiar with the matter. Steel Market Update had previously reported that the Alabama steel mill would take an outage in May. The latest information provides greater […]
Hyundai Steel has halted output on some production lines and will be approximately 1.5 months late with some shipments because of a “guerrilla strike,” according to a letter to U.S. customers. “Since the strike is still ongoing and the effect of the production suspension(s) are yet to be calculated, we cannot designate the accurate quantity […]
California Steel Industries (CSI) has opened its June flat rolled orderbook, and the West Coast slab converter has also increased prices by as much as $90 per ton ($4.50/cwt), according to market participants. “The purpose of this letter is to inform you that CSI’s June flat rolled orderbook is now open,” the company said in […]
U.S. electric-arc furnace mills have a leg up on the world when it comes to meeting new carbon emissions standards–for now, said CRU Senior Analyst Ryan Smith. That’s according to a “carbon curve” Smith presented that is part of CRU Group’s Emissions Analysis Tool. The carbon curve is similar to the cost curve many steel […]
U.S. electric-arc furnace mills have a leg up on the world when it comes to meeting new carbon emissions standards–for now, said CRU Senior Analyst Ryan Smith. That’s according to a “carbon curve” Smith presented that is part of CRU Group’s Emissions Analysis Tool. The carbon curve is similar to the cost curve many steel […]
NLMK USA has slated an approximately one-week maintenance outage in June on the melt shop and hot strip mill at its facility in Portage, Ind., a company official confirmed. The plant-wide outage is for routine semi-annual maintenance and “isn’t a big deal,” said NLMK USA Executive Vice President James Banker. The Portage electric-arc furnace (EAF) […]
FOB mills prices aren’t the only thing on the rise – so too are service center resale prices, import tags and ocean freight rates. Service centers are selling amongst each other for nearly $1,400 per ton ($70/cwt), and certain master distributors are charging that much if not more for hot band, market participants said. That’s […]
General Motors continues to crank out some full-size pickup trucks despite a microchip shortage. The Detroit-based automaker is doing so by shipping certain vehicles without chip-containing components necessary for reducing fuel consumption, a company spokesman confirmed. “Due to the global shortage of semiconductors impacting the global auto industry, we are making Active Fuel Management/Dynamic Fuel […]
Reducing carbon isn’t just something that steel wants to do to be a good corporate citizen, it’s increasingly something that key customers – such as automakers – are demanding. Case in point: German automaker BMW is investing in a CO2-free steel production process developed by Boston Metal, a U.S.-based start-up. Boston Metal has found a way […]
U.S. Steel expects a solid first quarter thanks to firm demand and as record high flat-rolled steel prices flow through to its bottom line. “Strong market conditions and our well-timed acquisition of Big River Steel are allowing us to drive significant earnings growth,” U. S. Steel President and Chief Executive Officer David B. Burritt said […]
The United States’ two leading steel industry associations have cheered the Senate confirmation of Michael Regan, the new head of the Environmental Protection Agency. The move comes as the U.S. steel industry increasingly looks to burnish its credentials as a green industry – and as the potential of a carbon-border tax boosts the economic viability […]
The semiconductor shortage that forced General Motors to extend assembly plant outages continues to impact production at other North American automakers as well. Case in point: Toyota’s Tundra pickup truck assembly plant in San Antonio, Texas, where it’s not clear how long the production disruption might last. The chip shortage been an issue for Toyota […]
AM/NS Calvert has a planned maintenance outage coming up, a company spokeswoman confirmed. The outage is expected to take place in May on the Alabama steel mill’s hot-strip mill, market participants said. The spokeswoman did not confirm when the outage would take place or on what part of the mill repairs or upgrades would be […]
Nucor’s tubular products group aims to increase prices for hollow structural sections (HSS), mechanical tubing and piling product by $125 per ton ($6.25/cwt) effective immediately. “The increase is a result of rising raw material costs, strong demand and (the) volatility of transportation costs,” the steelmaker said in a letter to customers on Thursday, March 11. Nucor […]
Ternium plans to start up its new hot-strip mill in Pesquería, outside of Monterrey, Mexico, in early June, according to market participants. The development has allowed the Latin American steelmaker to take June orders for customers in the U.S, sources said. Those tons from will be rolled from Ternium’s existing hot-strip mills, something that is […]
Hot-rolled coil import volumes from South Korea appear poised to dip in March versus February because the country is nearing its first-quarter Section 232 quota limit, according to government figures. U.S. buyers have imported 87,493.74 tonnes of South Korean hot-rolled coil from the beginning of the year through March 10, according to data from U.S. Customs and […]