Domestic mills won back market share from imports in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Even though the steel market contracted by 1.9 percent in 2019, shipments by U.S. mills to domestic locations increased by 2.9 percent as imports declined. Table 1 shows 13 years of history of total steel supply to the U.S. market in short […]
Raw steel production in the week ending Feb. 22 totaled 1,901,000 net tons, a small 0.3 percent decrease from the prior week. The average mill utilization rate of 81.5 percent has fluctuated within a narrow +/-1 percent range since the beginning of the year and remains at a healthy level for the mills. Production last […]
While America’s integrated steel producers are investing millions in R&D to reduce harmful emissions from their steelmaking process, the nation’s minimill steel producers have already claimed the high ground for environmental stewardship. Integrated mills and their blast furnaces heat iron ore and coking coal at high temperatures to produce high-quality virgin pig iron and steel. […]
Raw steel production in the week ending Feb. 15 totaled 1,907,000 net tons, a small 0.4 percent increase from the prior week to a strong mill utilization rate of 81.8 percent. Production last week was down 0.5 percent from the same period last year, reported the American Iron and Steel Institute. Adjusted year-to-date production through Feb. […]
Based on our analysis of 10 economic indicators, the decline in manufacturing slowed in February’s data. This report summarizes 10 data streams that describe the state of U.S. manufacturing in general and the steel industry in particular. We have reported on most of these separately in our Steel Market Update publications, and therefore will be […]
In three months through December, demand for total rolled products declined by 6.1 percent. This Premium analysis by Steel Market Update is based on steel mill shipment data from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and import-export data from the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC). It is meant as a more in-depth look compared […]
Apparent U.S. steel supply increased to 8.8 million net tons in December, according to data from the American Iron and Steel Institute and U.S. Department of Commerce. While up over the previous three months, December supply remains low compared to the last two years. Last month we reported that November supply was at a three-year low, […]
Raw steel production in the week ending Feb. 8 totaled 1,899,000 net tons, a small 0.8 percent decline from the prior week, but still a healthy mill utilization rate of 81.4 percent. Production last week was down 0.9 percent from the same period last year, reported the American Iron and Steel Institute. Adjusted year-to-date production through […]
U.S. raw steel production in December rose 2.9 percent to 8,037,650 net tons, reported the American Iron and Steel Institute in Washington. December production was below the 2019 average of 8,061,679 tons and down 2.5 percent compared to the same month last year. Broken down by production method, 5,682,920 tons (70.7 percent) were produced by […]
By CRU Prices Analyst Estelle Tran, from CRU’s Bulk Ferro Alloys Monitor The steel market got a stronger than expected start to the year, lifting year-to-date U.S. steel mill capability utilization to 82.1 percent—the highest level since May 2019, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. The Institute for Supply Management reported that the […]
With January in the record books, domestic steelmakers have managed to keep their raw steel production at a healthy 82 percent of capacity or better for the entire first month of the year, outpacing the rate in the beginning of 2019. Production in the week ending Feb. 1 totaled 1,914,000 net tons for a utilization […]
As advanced as steelmaking has become, producing steel is still an inherently carbon- and energy-intensive process. Steel mills in the United States and the rest of the world find themselves in the crosshairs of the many environmental and political groups now calling for dramatic steps to reduce harmful air emissions and slow the pace of […]
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada-Agreement was signed into law by President Trump on Wednesday. The signing clears the way for Canada to begin the ratification process that is likely to be concluded in March. The president called the agreement the “largest, fairest, most balanced, and modern trade agreement ever achieved.” “Everybody said this was a deal that could […]
Domestic steelmakers kept their their raw steel production rate above 82 percent of their capability in the week ending Jan. 25. Production totaled 1,919,000 net tons for a utilization rate of 82.3 percent, down a slight 0.5 percent from the previous week but up 2.6 percent compared with the same week last year, reported the American […]
Steel imports into the United States in 2019, totaling 27.9 million tons, showed a decline of 17.3 percent versus 2018, and were at their lowest level since 2010 as the economy was recovering from the recession. Finished steel imports of 21.0 million tons were down 18.1 percent for the year. Finished steel imports held a […]
Looking ahead to February, Steel Market Update sources predict ferrous scrap prices will decline by $10-20/GT, which has implications for finished steel prices next month. February is the shortest month of the year, so buying programs will be somewhat weaker, said CRU Senior Analyst Ryan McKinley. “It looks like the February scrap market will trade […]
Domestic steelmakers increased their raw steel production for the seventh week in a row, raising the average capability utilization to 82.7 percent in the week ending Jan. 18. Raw steel production totaled 1,928,000 net tons, up 0.3 percent from the previous week and up 3.0 percent compared with the same week last year, reported the American […]
Steel Market Update is pleased to share this Premium content with Executive-level members. For more information on how to upgrade to a Premium-level subscription, email Info@SteelMarketUpdate.com. Based on Steel Market Update’s analysis of 10 indicators in January, the decline in U.S. manufacturing continues. This report summarizes 10 data streams that describe the state of U.S. […]
Steel and aluminum producers agree that lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles are better for the environment—but that’s where the consensus ends. In letters to the editor published recently by Automotive News, the American Iron and Steel Institute and the Aluminum Association wielded dueling studies to support their claims that theirs is the material of choice to […]
2019 was a challenge for steel suppliers, with both demand and pricing on a downward slope for the first three quarters of the year. Although it’s still early, there are signs 2020 could prove to be a better year for the steel industry. Steel mills, and the service centers that process and distribute their products, […]
Looking back on 2019, it’s difficult to assess the success of Trump’s tariffs. A case for their effectiveness can be made either way. Judging by one measure, imports, it certainly appears the tariffs did their job. The American Iron and Steel Institute estimates that total steel imports declined by approximately 17.9 percent in 2019 to […]
The Senate voted its approval of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement in a sweeping 89-10 bipartisan vote on Thursday. The trade agreement now goes to President Trump for signature. The Canadian parliament is expected to follow suit, allowing the USMCA to be implemented later this year. The final agreement adds language addressing the internet, digital services and […]
Apparent U.S. steel supply slipped to 8.4 million net tons in November, according to data from the American Iron and Steel Institute and U.S. Department of Commerce. November supply is now at a three-year low, the lowest seen since November 2016 when supply was 8.1 million tons. Apparent steel supply, a proxy for demand, is […]
Domestic steelmakers increased their raw steel production for the second time this year, raising the average capability utilization to 82.5 percent in the week ending Jan. 11. Raw steel production totaled 1,923,000 net tons, up 1.3 percent from the previous week and up 2.8 percent compared with the same week last year, reported the American Iron […]
U.S. raw steel production in November fell 2.2 percent to 7,812,925 net tons, reported the American Iron and Steel Institute in Washington. November production is below the 2019 average of 8,063,863 tons and down 4.2 percent compared to the same month last year. Broken down by production method, 5,646,674 tons (72.3 percent) were produced by […]
Despite the holidays, domestic steelmakers managed to increase their mill utilization to 82.0 percent in the week ending Jan. 4. The last time weekly production was that high was in May 2019. Raw steel production totaled 1,898,000 net tons, up 1.2 percent from the previous week and up 2.0 percent compared with the same week […]
By CRU Analysts, from CRU’s Bulk Ferroalloys Monitor U.S. finished steel prices have risen following price increase announcements that found support from service center restocking. Adding to this price support was the scrap market, where scarcer supply and increased mill demand put prices on an upward trajectory. Some steel products have enjoyed quicker price gains […]
The Congressional Budget Office expects the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to result in higher than expected tariff revenue for the United States on motor vehicles and parts due to stricter rules of origin and labor value content requirements. Included in the revenue calculation is an estimated $3 billion in tariffs to be paid by automakers over the […]
Domestic steelmakers finished 2019 strong and managed to keep the average mill capability utilization above the desired 80 percent rate for the year. Mill utilization increased to 81.1 percent in the week ending Dec. 28, the last full week of the year. Raw steel production totaled 1,876,000 net tons, up 0.5 percent from the previous […]
Mill capability utilization inched back over the 80 percent mark in the week ending Dec. 21. Production totaled 1,866,000 net tons at 80.1 percent capacity, up 1.2 percent from the previous week and up 0.3 percent compared with the same week last year, reported the American Iron and Steel Institute. Adjusted year-to-date production through Dec. 21 […]