With trading still winding down today, it appears ferrous scrap prices for October will settle down $20/GT on prime grades and sideways for obsoletes. Most Steel Market Update sources expect scrap prices to start moving higher in the months ahead. “After Cleveland-Cliffs bought busheling last week basically sideways, the U.S. mills stubbornly waited a week […]
After a small decline in October, ferrous scrap prices are expected to strengthen in November and beyond on strong export demand and tightening seasonal supplies, sources tell Steel Market Update. CRU Senior Analyst Ryan McKinley sees upward momentum for scrap prices in the weeks and months ahead. Export demand is increasing, he said, pointing to […]
Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) forecasts a new quarterly record in the third quarter of 2021 when it comes to steel operations’ profitability, according to guidance issued Wednesday. The gains versus second-quarter results come thanks to strong steel demand and significant metal spread expansion, the electric-arc furnace (EAF) steelmaker said. “Third-quarter 2021 steel shipments are expected to be […]
In the near term, ferrous scrap prices are heading down. But in the long term – with the proliferation of electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking around the globe putting added pressure on scrap supplies – the price trend for scrap is definitely pointing upward. The cost of scrap and other metallics is of high interest […]
Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. has resumed production at its Cascade Steel Rolling Mills in McMinnville, Ore., following a fire in late May that damaged the facility’s melt shop. The Portland, Ore.-based recycler, which also owns the Oregon mill, said the facility was accepting orders after restarting operations several weeks earlier than expected. “I am proud […]
As scrap prices for August were settling today, obsolete grades generally traded down $20/GT, while prime grades traded sideways, sources tell Steel Market Update. Late reports indicated busheling may be down $10 in the South. Ferrous scrap prices factor into the mills’ costs and how much they charge for finished steel products. The drop in […]
Looking for Signs One year ago, benchmark hot rolled prices bottomed at $440 per ton ($22.00/cwt). Since then, steel prices have been on a tear with spot hot rolled more than four times higher at nearly $1,900 per ton ($95.00/cwt). The net result from this 52-week march higher is the way steel buyers view the […]
Looking for Signs One year ago, benchmark hot rolled prices bottomed at $440 per ton ($22.00/cwt). Since then, steel prices have been on a tear with spot hot rolled more than four times higher at nearly $1,900 per ton ($95.00/cwt). The net result from this 52-week march higher is the way steel buyers view the […]
Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) kicked off steel earnings season by posting record second-quarter sales and record profits on ballooning metal spreads. And the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaker anticipates another record performance in the third quarter as well as strong demand into 2022. “We remain confident that macroeconomic and market conditions are […]
Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., posted its best results in more than a decade in its fiscal third quarter thanks to high prices and strong demand for both ferrous and nonferrous scrap. The Portland, Ore.-based scrap recycler and long steel producer recorded net income of $63.6 million in the third quarter after losing approximately $5 million […]
The dilemma is global warming, CO2 is just the proxy, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. President and CEO Lourenco Goncalves said during the opening keynote speech at CRU’s Steel Decarbonization Strategies 2021 Virtual Conference. Cliffs’ top executive took a strong stance during his talk—which opened the first major event devoted exclusively to the topic of decarbonization in the […]
The dilemma is global warming, CO2 is just the proxy, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. President and CEO Lourenco Goncalves said during the opening keynote speech at CRU’s Steel Decarbonization Strategies 2021 Virtual Conference. Cliffs’ top executive took a strong stance during his talk—which opened the first major event devoted exclusively to the topic of decarbonization in the […]
Ferrous scrap prices are likely to rise again in July on top of the $50-60 per gross ton increase in June – but just how much remains unclear, according to Steel Market Update sources. “July expectations vary greatly,” said one dealer in the Northeast. “Most consumers are conceding prices will be up $20-50/GT depending on grade and […]
Ferrous scrap prices rose by $20/GT for prime grades, but were unchanged for obsoletes, in trading for July. Prime supplies were influenced by the slowdown in automotive production, while obsolete prices reflect stable export demand. Sources tell Steel Market Update that prices in the Ohio Valley settled around $505-514/GT for shred, $500-510/GT for plate and […]
Ferrous scrap prices, like finished steel prices, have been on the rise for most of the year (see chart), but could see a pause in August. Sources tell Steel Market Update they expect obsolete grades to trade $20/GT lower next month, while prime prices will most likely remain unchanged. “Obsolete grades should trade in the […]
By Michael Marley The mini sheet mills face a maxi problem, namely no additional supplies of prompt industrial scrap to feed their growing appetites for that raw material. As they move ahead with planned expansions of existing facilities and the construction of greenfield plants, electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmakers may be forced to rely on additional […]
Steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs marked sixth months of continued operation and production of hot-briquetted iron (HBI) at its direct reduction plant in Toledo, Ohio, with a ribbon-cutting celebration. In attendance for the June 9 on-site event hosted by Cliffs’ Chairman, President and CEO Lourenco Goncalves were Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D, Ohio), and Toledo […]
U.S. ferrous scrap prices have settled up $60 per gross ton on prime grades and up $50 per gross ton on obsoletes, according to market participants. “Regional markets were very consistent with the up $50 (per gross ton) on obsolete grades and up $60 (per gross ton) for primes,” one scrap executive said. “This resulted […]
Today, the domestic steel mills in Detroit began buying ferrous scrap for June up $60 per gross ton on prime grades (busheling and bundles) and up $50 per gross ton on cut grades and shred. It is anticipated the rest of the country will follow the Detroit lead. One of the questions we are constantly […]
Ferrous scrap prices in the U.S. are likely to see a big jump in June, estimated at $50-60 per gross ton or more, primarily as a result of strong demand from foreign buyers, sources tell Steel Market Update. “June will bring significant price increases for ferrous scrap. The biggest factor is the strength of the […]
With trading for May not quite finished this week, ferrous scrap prices appeared surprisingly strong, with obsolete grades up about $20/GT and prime grades moving sideways. Steel Market Update sources put the May price for shred in the range of $450-460 per gross ton, busheling at $590-600 per gross ton, and P/S at $440-445 per […]
My first job in the steel industry started in July 1977. I have been involved with the industry ever since. I’m coming up on 44 years in a few months. That either makes me old or wise…well, old anyway. What I can tell you is during those 44 years I have never seen a market […]
There are specific reasons for the tightness of supply that exists in the market today. Events have been in motion for the past 25 years that have culminated in the limitations of supply. For those of you who have attended SMU Steel Summit Conferences you may recall a presentation done by Paul Lowrey, Managing Director […]
Given the heightened urgency to reduce carbon emissions and address climate change, nearly all the world’s automakers plan to replace at least some of the internal combustion cars and trucks in their lineups with fully electric vehicles (EVs). GM, notably, has pledged to introduce 30 new EVs by 2025 and to produce nothing but EVs […]
Given the heightened urgency to reduce carbon emissions and address climate change, nearly all the world’s automakers plan to replace at least some of the internal combustion cars and trucks in their lineups with fully electric vehicles (EVs). GM, notably, has pledged to introduce 30 new EVs by 2025 and to produce nothing but EVs […]
Schnitzer Steel tripled its net income from first to second quarter FY 2021 to $46 million, supported by robust revenues of $600 million. Strong demand for recycled metals, higher finished steel prices and elevated scrap pricing resulted in expanded metal spreads and operating margins. Net income per ferrous ton increased to $47 from $14 per […]
Steel Dynamics Inc. forecast higher first- and second-quarter results, fueled by strong shipments and record steel prices, according to guidance issued Wednesday. “First-quarter 2021 profitability from the company’s steel operations is expected to be significantly higher than sequential fourth-quarter results, driven by flat roll metal spread expansion, as strong demand continues to support flat roll steel prices,” […]
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 […]
As expected, ferrous scrap prices for March settled up $50 per ton for obsolete grades and up $70 per ton for prime grades in most parts of the U.S., reported Steel Market Update sources. April scrap is likely to remain relatively unchanged. “Looking forward, I don’t see downside for prime grades in April. Depending on […]