Tag: steel

SMU polled steel buyers on an array of topics this week, ranging from market prices, demand, and inventories to imports and evolving market events. We are sharing some of the comments we collected.

SMU’s Steel Demand Index growth eased again, according to early April indicators. The slowdown comes after the index reached a four-year high in late February.

US steel imports returned to normal levels in February after climbing to a near three-year high in January, according to finalized trade data published by the US Commerce Department. March license data suggests imports have remained within this normal range.

For trading partners, the tariffs will reduce demand for exports and depress growth. Over the coming days, trade partners will almost certainly announce retaliation, which will hit US exports.

SMU’s Buyers’ Sentiment Indices experienced multi-point declines this week, though both remain positive and continue to reflect optimism among steel buyers for their companies' ability to be successful.

The US Commerce Department on Friday released preliminary anti-dumping margins in a trade case targeted imports of coated flat-rolled steel from 10 countries. Certain countries and mills were hammered while others were largely spared. Brazilian steelmaker CSN, for example, received a preliminary rate of 137.76%. Some Turkish mills – including Boreclik and ArcelorMittal Celik Ticaret – received no dumping margin at all.

Chad Utermark, executive vice president of new markets and innovation, plans to retire effective June 7.

The Commerce Department has made a preliminary determination that ‘critical circumstances’ exist for certain imports of corrosion-resistant (CORE) flat-rolled steel from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Commerce decided that critical circumstances did not apply to CORE from South Africa. The department also found that critical circumstances did not apply to CORE from UAE producers Al-Ghurair Iron & Steel LLC and United Iron & Steel Company LLC.

Four out of every five steel buyers who responded to our latest market survey say domestic mills are unwilling to negotiate on new order spot pricing. Mills have shown little flexibility on pricing for nearly two months.

SMU’s Monthly Review provides a summary of our key steel market metrics for the previous month, with the latest data updated through March 31.

Nucor paused its weekly hot-rolled (HR) coil price this week, keeping it flat for the first time since Jan. 21. This comes after a nine-week rally that saw the company increase prices by double-digits for eight of those weeks.

Nucor aims to increase prices for steel plate by $40 per short ton (st) with the opening of its May order book. The Charlotte, N.C.-based steelmaker said the increase was effective with new orders received on Friday, March 28, in a letter to customers dated the same day. The company said the price hike applied […]

A personal perspective on Galvalume prices from SMU analyst Brett Linton.

During the chat, we’ll discuss trends in the North American sheet and plate markets, as well as the unique aspects of the Canadian market. We’ll talk all thing tariffs — and the timing couldn’t be better in the wake of Liberation Day on April 2.

As Hybar nears the completion of its $700-million rebar mill in Arkansas, the company said it is still “actively considering” building other steel facilities in the southern US.

This week, SMU polled steel buyers on an array of topics, including market prices, demand, tariff policies, inventories, imports, and emerging market events.

Transportation equipment led the increase, rising 1.5% to $98.3 billion.

SMU's steel price indices moved in differing directions this week but remained largely stable as cautious buyers await clarity on pending steel tariffs and trade cases.

February’s global raw steel output is tied with last December's for the fourth-lowest monthly production rate recorded over the past two years.

On February 10, President Trump announced a massive restructuring of tariffs on steel and aluminum. Those changes took effect on March 12, and they will impact US manufacturing. What will the impact be? Bye-bye exclusions Perhaps the most important change, which hits imports from all countries, is the loss of a product exclusion process to […]

SMU’s Buyers’ Sentiment Indices showed mixed movements this week but remain strong, reflecting continued confidence among steel buyers.

SSAB Americas aims to increase plate prices by at least $60 per short ton (st) ahead of opening their May order book.

Steel prices were stable to higher this week for the second consecutive week across the sheet and plate products tracked by SMU. Three of our price indices increased from the previous week, while two held firm.

Prices for five of the seven steelmaking raw materials tracked by SMU increased from February to March, according to our latest analysis.

Flat rolled = 58.6 shipping days of supply Plate = 49 shipping days of supply Flat rolled With the rapid run up in prices, US service centers saw a significant pickup in orders that caused flat-rolled steel supply to decline in February. At the end of February, service centers carried 58.6 shipping days of flat-rolled […]

A quick way to catch up on what you might have missed.

While overall steel demand remains weak in the near term, there are reasons to expect metallurgical coal prices will increase over the course of the year, Ramaco says.

President Trump’s tariffs are aimed in large part at bringing manufacturing back to the United States. In theory, it’s simple enough: Want to avoid a big tariff? Make it in the US!

The United States has officially reinstated undiluted Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum as of Wednesday, . All imports of the metals, as well as some derivative products, now face a 25% tax when entering the US.

Canada and the European Union are retaliating against what they deem to be unjustified tariffs on steel and aluminum by the United States.