SMU price ranges: Market stable amid post-Thanksgiving glut
Steel sheet prices remain at or near multi-month lows, while plate prices continue edging lower from their mid-2022 peak.
Steel sheet prices remain at or near multi-month lows, while plate prices continue edging lower from their mid-2022 peak.
SMU’s Monthly Review provides a summary of important steel market metrics for the previous month. Our latest report includes data updated through November 30th.
The move comes less than two months after Tavares announced that he would step down in early 2026.
“We are under constant threat from nonmarket economies who evade our trade laws," SMA said.
ITR economist Tyler St. Germain will join SMU for a Community Chat on Dec. 11 at 11 am ET. You can register here. The live webinar is free for all to attend. A recording will be available only to SMU members. We'll discuss the 2025-26 outlook for both the overall economy and also for manufacturing. We’ll in addition discuss how Trump administration policies when it comes to tariffs and immigration might impact the steel sector and key end use markets.
SMU's price indices saw minor fluctuations on sheet products this week, while our plate and Galvalume indices held steady.
On Monday, Nucor published new extras effective Jan, 4, 2025.
Contractors Steel was acquired in 2018 by UPG, a private equity firm with a portfolio of metals and logistics companies
The distributor and service center is opening a 250,000-square-foot facility in Canton, Mich.
Following months of fluctuations, SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices rebounded this week, now at multi-month highs. Both of our Indices remain in positive territory and indicate that steel buyers are optimistic about the success of their businesses.
Trademark Metals Recycling opened an advanced metal recovery facility in Bushnell, Fla.
Most steel buyers SMU polled this week reported that mills remain willing to negotiate new order pricing.
Now that the dust has settled from the US election, as have the immediate reactions in the equity, bond, and commodity markets, this is a prime opportunity to look at how a second Trump presidency might affect the US steel market.
So far, nearly $570 billion in funding has been announced for over 66,000 projects and awards.
SMU’s flat-rolled steel prices were mixed this week with slight declines across most products and a modest increase in prices for cold-rolled coil.
In this Premium analysis we cover North American oil and natural gas prices, drilling rig activity, and crude oil stock levels. Trends in energy prices and rig counts are an advance indicator of demand for oil country tubular goods (OCTG), line pipe and other steel products.
This CRU analysis from discusses steel sheet prices, demand, and inventory levels around the globe this past week.
No more excuses! The election is over. Donald Trump will be inaugurated on Monday January 20 with the Republican party in control of Congress. Now, it is time to get back to work!
Earlier this week, SMU polled steel buyers on an array of topics, ranging from market prices, demand, and inventories to imports and evolving market events. Rather than summarizing the comments we collected, we are sharing some of them in each buyer’s own words.
President-elect Donald Trump will officially retake the White House on Jan. 20. I’ve been getting questions about how his administration’s policies might reshape the steel industry and domestic manufacturing. I covered the tumult and norm busting of Trump's first term: Section 232, Section 301, USMCA - and that's just on the trade policy side of things. It's safe to say that we'll have no shortage of news in 2025 when it comes to trade and tariffs.
Prices for sheet and plate products were mixed this week. While market participants have noted a post-election uptick in activity, most said that it was (so far) nothing to write home about.
The total amount of finished steel to enter the US market in September fell to its lowest level in seven months, according to our analysis of recent Department of Commerce and the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) data
Worthington Steel has named Cliff Larivey as the company’s president of flat-rolled steel processing, effective Dec. 1. He will replace Jeff Klingler, who had been performing the role for the past year.
After rising to a one-year high in August, the volume of steel that exited the country in September fell 10% month on month (m/m) to 760,000 short tons (st).
Russel Metals Inc.’s profit shrank during the third quarter as steel prices continued to be volatile.
Sheet lead times are stable to slightly extended compared to late-October levels, but are down for all products relative to production times one month ago.
September steel imports were 10% less than August levels, marking the lowest monthly import rate seen this year
Most steel buyers polled in our market poll this week continue to report mills are open to negotiation on new order pricing. In fact, negotiation rates have been strong for the majority of 2024, trending higher since September.
Timna Tanners, managing director of equity research for Wolfe Research, will be the featured speaker on the next SMU Community Chat. The webinar will be on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 11 am ET. It’s free to attend. You can register here. Timna – who has coined Sheet Storm, Scrap Squeeze, and Galv Galore – is one of the most popular guests on our Community Chats. Her insights and forecasts are always thought-provoking.
Votes were still being counted when this column posted on Tuesday evening. And I’d be surprised if we know who the president will be by the time some of you are reading it on Wednesday morning.