The people who buy and sell flat rolled steel for a living continue to be optimistic about their company’s ability to be successful both now and three to six months into the future. However, the year over year weakening (or less optimistic) trend that we have seen for most, if not all of this calendar […]
Lee Steel has sold all of the assets of its Wyoming, MI operations (Grand Rapids facility) and its working capital assets at the Romulus, MI facility to Union Partners I LLC, an affiliated group of service centers. The Romulus facility will be consolidated into the Wyoming facility and there will be no interruption in service […]
Not much new activity to report for metalforming companies. The August 2015 Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) Business Conditions Report showed members expect little change in business conditions for the next three months. Overall economic activity is expected to be slightly better with 26 percent predicting an increase in activity, up from 18 percent in July. […]
Steel buyers are reporting a weakening steel market in both our phone conversations as well as through our survey responses. SMU reported a drop in hot rolled coil prices last week of $5 per ton and we are reporting an additional $5 per ton move lower this week. We are seeing weakness in all products. […]
I was speaking with the owner of a manufacturing company late last week. He told me his company had a number of union plants and he has negotiated a number of union contracts over the past few years. “People don’t strike anymore,” he said, “unless someone puts a line in the sand and forces the […]
I was speaking with the owner of a manufacturing company late last week. He told me his company had a number of union plants and he has negotiated a number of union contracts over the past few years. “People don’t strike anymore,” he said, “unless someone puts a line in the sand and forces the […]
The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), today announced Rick Blume, vice president, commercial, Nucor Corporation, will succeed Dan Mull, executive vice president, sales and marketing, ArcelorMittal USA, as chairman of SMDI’s Board of Directors. “We look forward to working under Rick’s leadership to further […]
Olympic Steel net sales fell to $316.3 million in second quarter and dropped 9.8 percent to $661.1 million for the first half of 2015. Declines in both periods were attributed to lower shipments and lower average selling prices due in part to the impact of subsidized imports on the market. The company reported a net […]
Lightweighting vehicles with advanced high strength steel was the topic of conversation August 3 at the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars, in Traverse City, Mich. “Steel is the clear winner in the material competition as a result of its superior value,” said panelist Dr. Jody Hall, Vice President-Automotive Market, Steel Market Development Institute […]
US automotive sales had another stellar month in July beating analyst expectations as consumers continued to buy trucks and SUVs. Sales for July rose 5.3 percent year over year to 1.51 million vehicles. The seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) for July light vehicle sales rose to 17.5 million beating Bloomberg’s expectation of 17.2 million WardsAuto’s […]
A manufacturing company who requested that he not be quoted commented about the filing of Critical Circumstances by the domestic mills in the corrosion resistant (CORE – coated steels trade case) and its impact on their supply base. The points made by this OEM steel buyer need to be noted and discussed as the steel […]
U.S. Steel and four other domestic steel mills filed antidumping suits on cold rolled steel against 8 countries. The following information was released to the steel community this morning (Tuesday, July 28th). In an email last night, USS incorrectly named SSAB as one of the petitioners in the CR suit. SSAB did respond to our […]
AK Steel blamed low prices due to high levels of unfairly traded imports for its net loss of $64 million for the second quarter of 2015. Net sales for the quarter totaled $1.69, down from $1.75 billion sequentially and $1.53 billion in Q2 2014. Average selling price of $931 per ton was down 7 percent […]
Texas manufacturing has been in a slump for several months but is beginning to show signs of improvement. Manufacturing activity in Texas declined slightly in July according to The Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Most of the indexes in the survey were in negative numbers but slowly creeping […]
By a wide majority, buyers and sellers of flat rolled steel have little to no fear of a possible strike or lockout at either US Steel or ArcelorMittal. At least that is what we found during our most recent flat rolled market analysis conducted last week. Negotiations have started between ArcelorMittal and US Steel with […]
Essar Steel Algoma is investing CDN $240 million to modernize and expand its facilities to meet the global demand for advanced grades of steel. The investment includes $60 million in financial support from the governments of Ontario and Canada. Essar Steel Algoma received a $30 million grant from Ontario’s Ministry of Northern Development and Mines […]
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Company reported strong profits despite sliding sales and shipments in the second quarter. Net income was $90.2 million, a 2.4 percent drop from first quarter. Earnings per diluted share of $1.20 were above second quarter guidance. Sales of $2.42 billion slipped 7.3 percent from first quarter and 7.4 percent year over […]
Steel Dynamics expressed concern about imports during the company’s second quarter earnings call. “On the trade front, we’re pleased the ITC has confirmed the flood of unfairly traded imports of corrosion-resistant sheets deal has materially reduced our shipments, pricing and profitability. I believe in fair trade, but the U.S. has become a dumping ground for […]
Following the exceptional rate of vehicle sales in the US in May the June rate fell from 17.8 million annualized to 17.2 million which is a more sustainable rate. The June pace was still higher than the 16.9 million units average of the past 12 months. Demand is being supported by easier credit terms, sustained […]
On Friday, Steel Market Update (SMU) adjusted our Price Momentum Indicator from Higher to Neutral. Now why did we go and do that? We have been stuck in a very tight trading range on most flat rolled steels since late April of this year. Benchmark hot rolled, which is used by most in the […]
Contract negotiations are currently underway between the United Steel Workers and steel companies US Steel and ArcelorMittal. The companies each met with USW bargaining committee members in Pittsburgh to begin working out details of new three-year contracts to replace the current ones expiring Sept. 1. USW Committee members are expecting the first proposal from ArcelorMittal […]
NLMK USA second quarter crude steel production rose to 130,000 tonnes (143,298 tons), a 39 percent increase from the previous quarter. Finished steel output totaled 490,000 tonnes (540,123 tons), up 20 percent q/q. USA sales in Q2 grew 12 percent q/q to 480,000 tonnes (529,100 tons). Hot rolled steel production was up 20 percent to […]
“I have not heard anyone all that concerned about supply disruptions other than the industry media. It seems there is plenty of material to go around and anyone who took a position is hoping that there will be an interruption so that their inventory will become more profitable.” Ohio Valley Service Center Earlier today, SMU […]
Steel Market Update found the results of one of the group of questions about service center spot sales from this past week’s flat rolled steel survey quite interesting. There have been two price increase announcements by all of the domestic mills and a third laying there from US Steel and our results suggests – well, […]
Contract talks opened July 13 between the United Auto Workers union and the big three Detroit automakers. As GM, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler enter negotiations, at issue for the companies is labor costs. GM and Ford are looking to cut labor cost that average $8 to $9 per hour higher than at Honda and Toyota. […]
ArcelorMittal responded Monday to rumors of a potential closure of Indiana Harbor West in East Chicago. Key Banc reported that sources indicated “ArcelorMittal USA is taking steps to reduce its sheet hot end and finishing capabilities via the closure of Indiana Harbor West.” A spokesperson at ArcelorMittal USA, in an email to Steel Market Update, […]
The four year contract between USW local 1196 and Allegheny Technologies expired at 11:59 on June 30, 2015 but an agreement has been reached, for now, to keep the plant operational under terms of the previous contract. ATI and USW officials say there are still a number of significant issues to be resolved before a […]
Chevy is taking on the aluminum Ford F-150 with a series of ads sure to tickle consumers and annoy Ford marketers. The new ads for the Chevy Silverado poke fun at the F-150 while lauding the benefits of steel construction. The ads which are currently running in social media, point out the disadvantages of aluminum. […]
The Department of Commerce said Wednesday that it will proceed on AD/CVD investigations of imports of corrosion-resistant steel products from China, India, Italy, Korea, and Taiwan. A petition to investigate the products was filed on June 3, 2015 by US Steel, Nucor, ArcelorMittal USA, AK Steel, Steel Dynamics, and California Steel Industries. The products covered […]
Worthington Industries closed fourth quarter FY 2015 with net sales of $846 million and net earnings of $28.9 million. Quarter earnings were negatively impacted by pre-tax impairment, restructuring and other charges, totaling $6.5 million. Earnings in Q4 2014 were $33.2 million. Steel processing net sales dropped 4 percent y/y to $540 million due to lower […]