Biden administration Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo described Section 232 tariffs on imported steel and aluminum as “effective” on Thursday. “The data show that those tariffs have been effective,” Secretary Raimondo said in an interview with MSNBC. Raimondo’s comments are important because trade policies such as Section 232, which Trump rolled out in March 2018, fall […]
Flat-rolled steel imports to the United States rebounded in February, weighing in at their highest monthly total in more than a year. Hot-rolled imports, meanwhile, hit their highest point in more than two years, according to Commerce Department figures. And the trend is only just getting started, according to some market participants. The U.S. was […]
General Motors has extended production shutdowns at three North American plants because of a continuing microchip shortage. In addition, the automaker said it would take downtime at its Gravatai plant in Brazil. “Our intent is to make up as much production lost at these plants as possible,” a GM spokesman said on Wednesday, March 3. […]
SSAB Americas raised some eyebrows in the steel market when it officially announced a “scrap collar” along with an $80-per-ton ($4/cwt) plate price increase earlier this week. The move, while not unheard of in the steel market, is not necessarily typical for standard spot market plate orders, some buyer sources said. An SSAB Americas spokeswoman […]
SSAB Americas raised some eyebrows in the steel market when it officially announced a “scrap collar” along with an $80-per-ton ($4/cwt) plate price increase earlier this week. The move, while not unheard of in the steel market, is not necessarily typical for standard spot market plate orders, some buyer sources said. An SSAB Americas spokeswoman […]
NLMK USA expects United Steelworkers (USW) union members at its steel mill in Farrell, Pa., to return to work on Monday, March 8, a company official said. The steelmaker plans to ramp up its hot mill in western Pennsylvania in March. April will see downstream facilities resume normal operating rates, NLMK USA Executive Vice President […]
NLMK USA expects United Steelworkers (USW) union members at its steel mill in Farrell, Pa., to return to work on Monday, March 8, a company official said. The steelmaker plans to ramp up its hot mill in western Pennsylvania in March. April will see downstream facilities resume normal operating rates, NLMK USA Executive Vice President […]
United Steelworkers (USW) union members have voted to ratify a new labor contract with NLMK USA, ending a strike that began more than six months ago. There were 276 votes cast in favor of the new four-year contract and 103 against it, USW District 10 Staff Representative Todd Clary told Steel Market Update on Monday, March […]
United Steelworkers (USW) union members have voted to ratify a new labor contract with NLMK USA, ending a strike that began more than six months ago. There were 276 votes cast in favor of the new four-year contract and 103 against it, USW District 10 Staff Representative Todd Clary told Steel Market Update on Monday, March […]
U.S hot-rolled coil import volumes are at their highest level in at least two years–and import data for February is not yet complete. The U.S. is poised to import at least 162,357.3 metric tonnes of hot-rolled coil in February, according to import license data last updated by the Commerce Department on Wednesday, Feb. 24. That […]
U.S hot-rolled coil import volumes are at their highest level in at least two years–and import data for February is not yet complete. The U.S. is poised to import at least 162,357.3 metric tonnes of hot-rolled coil in February, according to import license data last updated by the Commerce Department on Wednesday, Feb. 24. That […]
JSW Steel USA resumed operations at its Baytown, Texas, plate and pipe mill on Feb. 25–earlier than expected, the company’s top executive said. And the steelmaker remains on track to begin melting at its electric-arc furnace (EAF) sheet mill in Mingo Junction, Ohio, in March, JSW Steel USA CEO Mark Bush told Steel Market Update. “We […]
JSW Steel USA resumed operations at its Baytown, Texas, plate and pipe mill on Feb. 25–earlier than expected, the company’s top executive said. And the steelmaker remains on track to begin melting at its electric-arc furnace (EAF) sheet mill in Mingo Junction, Ohio, in March, JSW Steel USA CEO Mark Bush told Steel Market Update. “We […]
Evraz North America has followed Nucor in increasing plate prices by at least $70 per ton ($3.50/cwt). The steelmaker said that the increase–$90 CAD for customers north of the border–was effective immediately and that it applied equally to all carbon, high-strength low-alloy, hot-rolled coil, normalized, and quenched-and-tempered products, according to letters to customers on Feb. […]
U.S. crude steel production fell sharply in January 2021 versus the same month last year even as production rose in most other major steelmaking nations, according to figures from the World Steel Association. And with domestic supplies scarce, some buyer sources have told Steel Market Update that they are taking a closer look at the […]
President Joe Biden has signed an executive order officially implementing a U.S. supply chain review for critical products such as semiconductors – a lack of which has led to widespread automotive production outages. “Recent shortages of automotive semiconductor chips have forced slowdowns at car manufacturing plants, highlighting how shortages can hurt U.S. workers,” the White House said […]
California Steel Industries (CSI) has closed its May order booked for flat-rolled steel just a week after opening it. “We want to thank you for your continued support during these difficult times. … We will contact you when we open the Flat Rolled order book for June,” CSI said in a Feb. 23 letter to […]
The U.S. Commerce Department has preliminarily increased anti-dumping margins on several major Japanese hot-rolled coil suppliers. Commerce calculated preliminary anti-dumping margins of 11.70% for Nippon Steel, Japan’s largest steelmaker, and 6.8% for Tokyo Steel Manufacturing. Nippon Steel and Tokyo Steel were the mandatory respondents in the case. But a litany of Japanese steel suppliers–including JFE […]
United Steelworkers union members will vote March 1 on whether to ratify a tentative contract agreement covering NLMK USA’s operations in western Pennsylvania, a union official said. USW District 10 Staff Representative Todd Clary confirmed the date next Monday. He declined additional comment until after the vote. NLMK USA President and CEO Robert D. Miller also confirmed […]
Tube mills in the U.S. and Canada have followed Nucor in raising prices on hollow structural sections (HSS) and other non-energy tubulars by about $50 per ton ($2.50/cwt). The increases are necessary in response to higher coil costs and strong customer demand, according to some producers. Atlas Tube is raising prices on all new orders […]
TC Energy is considering liquidating excess equipment and steel following the cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline. “Our project team … is evaluating what we can do with all of our equipment and its uses,” Bevin Wirzba, president of liquid pipelines for the Calgary, Alberta-based energy company, said during an earnings conference call earlier this […]
Nucor’s tubular products group has increased prices for hollow structural sections (HSS), pipe, mechanical and piling products by $50 per ton ($2.50/cwt). The move is effective immediately and is necessary because of “rising raw material costs, strong demand, and volatile transportation costs,” Nucor said in a Feb. 19 letter to customers. Orders booked prior to […]
Steel Market Update data shows no significant change in the negotiating position of steel buyers, who remain largely at the mercy of the mills. More than nine out of 10 buyers responding to SMU’s questionnaire this week reported the mills unwilling to discuss price concessions—which has been the mills’ attitude for the past five months. […]
NLMK USA has reached a tentative agreement with the United Steelworkers at its operations in western Pennsylvania, according to both company and union leaders. If ratified, the pact would bring an end to a strike that began nearly six months ago. “We reached a tentative agreement today. … We are optimistic that today’s actions will […]
NLMK USA has reached a tentative agreement with the United Steelworkers at its operations in western Pennsylvania, according to both company and union leaders. If ratified, the pact would bring an end to a strike that began nearly six months ago. “We reached a tentative agreement today. … We are optimistic that today’s actions will […]
Import license data for February is not complete, but foreign arrivals of some flat-rolled steel products are already running ahead of January volumes, according to Commerce Department figures. And with lead times at domestic mills running close to or even with import arrival times, that trend might continue, some market participants said. Hot Rolled and […]
Nucor has increased spot flat-rolled steel prices for some buyers by $40 per ton ($2/cwt), according to market participants. The electric-arc furnace (EAF) steelmaker is quoting certain customers $1,240 per ton for April hot-rolled coil, up from $1,200 previously, sources said. What’s less clear is how many spot tons are available for purchase. Spot tonnage, which […]
AM/NS Calvert has quietly increased prices for new spot orders by $40 per ton ($2/cwt), according to market participants. The move–which was effective on Feb. 16 but not widely announced–will see base prices for hot-rolled coil increase from $1,160 per ton to $1,200 per ton, sources said. Base prices for cold-rolled and coated products will […]
California Steel Industries (CSI) has opened its May order book, and the West Coast slab converter has also increased prices, according to market participants. “The purpose of this letter is to inform you that CSI’s May flat rolled order book is now open,” the company said in a Feb. 16 letter to customers. The letter […]
The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) remains concerned that General Approved Exclusions (GAEs) to Section 232 tariffs and quotas could lead to a surge in imports, the head of the lobbying group said. “This (GAEs) is not ending the entire Section 232 program by any means. But it has the potential to degrade the […]