Nucor’s raw material segment generated an annual profit of $57 million in 2024. This marked a swing to profit over 2023 when Nucor reported a $14-million loss for the segment. The Charlotte, N.C.-based company did not say in their earnings call on Tuesday what caused this increase besides a 20% increase in the production and […]
There is no doubt pig iron will be needed to fuel the expansion of flat-roll capacity in the US and Canada. Where will it come from? How much will it cost? What will be the quality? Is it a good business to produce merchant pig iron? The US imports between 4-6 million metric tons (mt) per year of […]
The US scrap market for February has a lot of moving parts that need to mesh before an accurate picture can emerge. However, the general opinion for next month is an increase of at least $20 per gross ton (gt), according to sources contacted by SMU. Among the issues are winter weather decreasing scrap flows, […]
The US and Canada have a long history of exporting ferrous scrap to numerous other countries over the last 100 years. During this period, the countries supplied have varied. In the last century, the main export destinations were Japan, South Korea, and the Far East in general. As the installation of EAF melting proliferated, the […]
The price spread between hot-rolled coil (HRC) and prime scrap continued to narrow in January, according to SMU’s most recent pricing data. While SMU’s average HRC price edged down week over week (w/w), it rose compared to a month ago. The January price for busheling also increased from December. Our average HRC price as of […]
The export scrap markets continue to lose ground. Unlike the domestic markets in the US and Canada, which have shown some strength in January, there have been multiple sales by US East Coast (USEC) exporters at lower prices, even after the US markets prices settled. And February looks even stronger. There are several reasons for […]
The ferrous scrap market at the start of the new year came into focus late yesterday, with overall prices seen rising from December.
Prices for pig iron imports into the US continue to retreat in the face of regional weakness in demand for ferrous raw materials in South Asia and the Far East.
The ferrous scrap markets start the year off in a battered condition after a real drubbing in 2024. There is optimism, but this was felt at times last year, only to succumb to the reality of weak demand and lower steel production.
The role of dealer resistance has had many ups and down over the last decades. At times dealer resistance to ferrous scrap pricing was justified and had positive effects on prices.
The US domestic ferrous scrap market had a rough 2024, despite optimism as the year started.
The prices being paid by US-based buyers has continued to decline as ferrous raw material demand across the globe remains weak.
The price spread between hot-rolled coil (HRC) and prime scrap narrowed slightly in December, according to SMU’s most recent pricing data.
Last week, the export community in the Atlantic Basin was licking its wounds over a Northern European sale at a two-year low of $325 per gross ton (gt) for HMS 80/20 to Turkey.
The scrap market in the US finally settled on Monday with one of the nation’s largest steelmakers issuing its price bids.
The US scrap market has begun forming for December shipment and prices seem to be sagging so far.
The BRICS countries of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, and South Africa met last month, along with several other associated nations. Among the topics discussed was the potential establishment of an alternative world currency to compete with the US dollar.
The ferrous scrap markets both here and abroad are displaying a definite lack of enthusiasm as we head into the holiday season.
The price spread between hot-rolled coil (HRC) and prime scrap remained the same in November as both tags were at the levels seen a month earlier, according to SMU’s most recent pricing data.
The pig iron markets have retreated over the last two months amidst a concerted effort by US-based buyers to drive down prices to more closely follow the lower domestic scrap prices.
The US and Canadian ferrous scrap markets for November have not settled following the US presidential election. There doesn’t seem to be a key indicator as to why November prices haven’t settled yet. For the ferrous scrap market, I can’t see a big change occurring. Nothing short-term, anyways. The mills don’t seem to have a view, either, or at least they aren’t showing a lean in any direction.
As we await the formation of November’s domestic ferrous scrap market, all the recent action is in the export market. However, it is debatable whether events in this arena are influencing our US market other than psychologically. This opinion has been expressed by several sources that I have approached.
The ferrous scrap market for November is starting to look more like the several preceding months.
The recycled iron and steel markets seem to be “ho hum” at this stage of October. The word on the street is strong sideways, which is really not a bullish sentiment compared to the optimism of two weeks ago.
Last week, US mills entered the scrap market, albeit later in the month than usual. Now we know why. They were trying to buy sideways (whatever that means anymore).
The US scrap market has been in a steady decline for the first nine months of this year. As we enter Q4, there seems to be scant hope things will change in October. However, some players are seeing a bit of light after this month, depending on steelmaker appetite for scrap.
SMU is pleased to share the latest news from the global pig iron markets from our sister publication, Recycled Metals Update.
Great Lakes-area mills have entered the September ferrous scrap market in a surprisingly prompt manner.
The basic pig iron (BPI) market remains virtually unchanged despite perceived weakness in other ferrous materials, such as scrap, billets, HRC and iron ore.
The US ferrous scrap market has essentially traded sideways for August. It may be too early to judge how much traction these prices will have with the trade.