The London Metal Exchange (LME) has launched a discussion paper on whether to delist Russian primary aluminum from its contract. A discussion paper is like what we do in the US when we ask for public comment on an issue. This decision to ask for market commentary is a 180-degree change of direction from what […]
The US economy declined at a revised -0.6% in the second quarter of 2022, matching the most recent GDP estimate and confirming the economy shrank in the first six months of the year, according to the second estimate from the US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Gross domestic production (GDP) in Q2 contracted […]
Steel Market Update sources expect ferrous scrap prices to be sideways to down in October, potentially the fifth consecutive monthly decline since the record highs seen earlier this year. Obsolete grades are anticipated to fall as much as $20 per gross ton or more, while prime scrap is expected to remain flat or slightly decline. […]
We’ve seen a wave of mill idlings and outages this fall. But steel buyer reaction to date has been subdued. The yawn now in response to all those tons coming out of the market stands in stark contrast to the almost hysterical reaction to downtime at even the smallest producers in early 2021. Remember the […]
Trump-era Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods continue to be challenged in court even today, more than four years after they took effect. It’s remarkable that the tariffs have survived two presidential administrations that otherwise have little in common. President Biden and former President Trump have sharp differences when it comes to tone and to […]
By CRU Research Analyst Aaron Kearney-Keaveny, from CRU’s Steelmaking Raw Materials Monitor The CRU metallics price indicator (CRUmpi) rose by 2.2% month-on-month (MoM) to 312.3, following four continuous months of decline since May 2022. This MoM rise in the CRUmpi was specifically driven by a sharp rebound in Asian scrap prices while European prices stabilized. […]
Total mill shipments of steel products were largely sideways in July, up marginally when compared to June. Mill shipments have been fluctuating up and down all year with little consistency. July’s mill shipments totaled 8.11 million tons, a 0.3% increase from June’s 8.09 million tons. Apparent supply also saw a slight gain in July, up just 1.1% […]
Antidumping and countervailing duty actions (also known as trade cases) have been a mainstay for protecting American industries from foreign competition. Many lawyers and economic consultants (I am among them) have made their living litigating these cases at Commerce Department, the US International Trade Commission, and the courts. More than 660 products are currently subject […]
By CRU Research Analyst Rosy Finlayson, from CRU’s Steelmaking Raw Materials Monitor European scrap prices remained relatively unchanged month-on-month (MoM) in September. Buying activity has been slow after the summer holidays despite this being the normal restocking period. Finished steel mills are reportedly sufficiently stocked at present. Scrap prices in Europe now range between €300 […]
US apparent steel supply recovered 2% in July to 9.23 million net tons, according to the latest US Department of Commerce and American Iron and Steel Institute data. July supply levels are 2% below the average monthly rate across the past year of 9.41 million tons. Recall that supply reached a six-year high last September at 9.92 million […]
The White House announced earlier this month, to no one’s surprise, that hundreds of companies and trade associations had expressed interest in continuing Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods. These expressions related only to the tariffs on $34 billion and $16 billion in trade value, the so-called “List 1” and “List 2” tariffs. The Office […]
US steel exports declined 7% from June to July, now at a five-month low of 742,000 net tons according to the latest US Commerce Department data. Just one month prior, we saw the third-highest monthly export rate seen in the past four years at 800,000 tons. On a 12-month moving average basis (12MMA), annual steel […]
The US economy shrank at a revised -0.6% in the second quarter of 2022, declining for the second straight quarter. Gross domestic production in Q2 contracted at a more moderate pace than initially though, according to the second estimate from the US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The result was a slight improvement […]
North American auto assemblies declined by 17.3% in July after expanding repeatedly in the prior two months. Though the market remains supply constrained due to ongoing parts and supply shortages, production in July was largely impacted by scheduled downtime for summer breaks and model-year changeovers. July’s results were ahead of the same year-ago period. Disruptions […]
The House of Representatives on Friday approved the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on a party-line vote. This legislation, with only Democratic support, passed the Senate 51-50 last weekend. The bill now goes to President Joe Biden, who will sign it into law. This is by any measure a major piece of legislation. On the surface, […]
Steelmakers stand firm in the face of Russian aggression The invasion of Ukraine led to a sharp and sudden decline in steel production as steelmakers hurried to idle their assets in the face of military aggression. In the weeks that followed, some of these producers restarted their facilities – albeit at reduced capacity utilization. As […]
Total mill shipments of steel products shrank in June, after gaining ground the month before. June’s mill shipments totaled 8.09 million tons, a 3.5% decline from May’s 8.38 million tons. Apparent supply also declined in June, down 2.8% versus the prior month. This analysis is based on steel mill shipment data from the American Iron and Steel […]
US apparent steel supply declined 4% month-over-month to 9.05 million net tons in June, erasing May’s gains, according to the latest US Department of Commerce and American Iron and Steel Institute data. June supply is now at the second lowest monthly level seen in the past 12 months, above only the February 2022 figure. Recall […]
US steel exports were up 1% from May to June, totaling just shy of 800,000 net tons, according to the latest US Commerce Department data. This is the third highest monthly export rate seen in the past four years. On a 12-month moving average (12MMA), June exports rose to a 3+ year record high. Total June exports are […]
The S&P Global US manufacturing PMI—another measure of manufacturing—fell to 52.2 in July, its lowest level in two years, as output and new orders decreased last month. July’s results are down slightly from 52.7 in June, as US manufacturers report the toughest business conditions since 2009. (Recall that a reading above 50.0 indicates growth.) The […]
By Greg Wittbecker, Advisor, CRU Group US International Trade Commission hearings provide little direction Last week in DC, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) held a series of public meetings and hearings to take comments on current Section 232 tariffs. Representatives from throughout the value chain were in attendance. The Aluminum Association participated in a […]
In my last lessons learned article, I began to answer a question posed to me regarding what I felt were the most important lessons I have learned over the course of my 45-year career in the steel industry. I wrote about honesty as being the simple answer and many of you have contacted me to […]
In my last Final Thoughts article, I began to answer a question posed to me regarding what I felt were the most important lessons I have learned over the course of my 45-year career in the steel industry. I wrote about honesty as being the simple answer and many of you have contacted me to […]
President Biden visited the Middle East last week. He touched down at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland early Sunday morning. Every presidential trip is and must be evaluated by what else is going on. This one was originally billed as routine: to attend a summit meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a group […]
By CRU Senior Analyst Puneet Paliwal, from CRU’s Steel Metallics Monitor on July 14 The CRU metallics price indicator (CRUmpi) registered its third consecutive double-digit percentage decline in July, falling by 18.5% month over month (MoM) to 313.9, its lowest value since February 2021. Bearish sentiment in the metallics market, prevalent since May, has been […]
North American auto assemblies grew by 11.1% in June, expanding for the second straight month. Though ongoing supply constraints continue, North American production has steadily improved since bottoming out last December. June’s results are 7.7% ahead of the same year-ago period. Disruptions across the North American automotive market have been extensive over the past two […]
Kaiser declares force majeure due to an inability to secure its required magnesium Kaiser Aluminum, which operates a major aluminum can sheet rolling mill in Warrick, Ind., declared force majeure on July 8, citing its inability to obtain enough magnesium to sustain its production. Kaiser’s mill specializes in the production of food container and beverage […]
Total mill shipments of steel products grew in May, after shrinking the month prior. May’s mill shipments totaled 8.38 million tons, a 3.1% increase from April’s 8.12 million tons. Apparent supply also recovered in May, up 3.9% versus the prior month. This analysis is based on steel mill shipment data from the American Iron and Steel Institute […]
US apparent steel supply increased 4% from April to May, rising to 9.48 million net tons, according to the latest US Department of Commerce and American Iron and Steel Institute data. Recall that supply reached a six-year high last September at 9.92 million tons, declining each month through February. May’s supply level is now the […]
US steel exports fell 4% in May to 793,000 net tons, further declining from a 45-month high in March, according to the latest US Commerce Department data. On a 12-month moving average (12MMA), May exports have reached a 3+ year record high. Total May exports are 7% higher than levels seen one year ago. As shown […]