
Steel market chatter this week
This week, SMU polled steel buyers on an array of topics, including market prices, demand, tariff policies, inventories, imports, and emerging market events.
This week, SMU polled steel buyers on an array of topics, including market prices, demand, tariff policies, inventories, imports, and emerging market events.
Steel Market Update is pleased to share this Premium content with Executive members. Contact info@steelmarketupdate.com for information on how to upgrade to a Premium-level subscription. Growth in SMU’s Steel Demand Index eased in March after reaching a four-year high in late February. Despite a moderate gain, the index remains in expansion territory. The Steel Demand […]
After a March frenzy, are prices nearing a peak in April? Some of you have suggested that they are. Others think it's too early to make any such call.
People remain concerned about inflation, trade policies, and tariffs.
President Trump said on Monday there may be exceptions for some countries on reciprocal tariffs.
South Korea’s Hyundai has formally announced a nearly $6-billion investment to build a steel mill in Louisiana to supply steel for the company’s automotive interests in the southeastern US.
Have we hit a bit of a lull when it comes to the recent price bump? Mills certainly capitalized on the threat of tariffs and the unknown, with much that still could unfold.
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 […]
These developments come at a time when the global trading system has been shaken up by US President Donald Trump’s greater use of tariffs, including employing Section 232 legislation to impose a 25% levy on steel from all countries to protect national security.
Are President Trump's tariff policies helping? Steel buyers offer their opinions on the impact of Trump's tariffs.
The aluminum market is facing a wave of uncertainty following the latest Section 232 tariffs, leaving many in the industry asking the same key questions – from why the Midwest Premium isn’t reacting as expected to how these tariffs will impact Canada, value-added products, and scrap flows – there’s plenty to unpack. We’ve put together […]
From the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 to George W. Bush's temporary 30% tariff, SMU takes a look at steel tariffs past.
The European Commission unveiled A European Steel and Metals Action Plan aimed at safeguarding the European Union’s steel and base metals production.
The ABI is a leading indicator for near-term nonresidential construction activity and projects business conditions ~9-12 months down the road (the typical lead time between architecture billings and construction spending).
Demand is up, but tariffs raise concerns
President Trump said he has no plans to create exemptions on the recently enacted steel and aluminum tariffs, according to media reports.
Is a fissure opening up between manufacturers and the mills on President Trump's tariffs?
International trade attorney Alan Price sat down with SMU to unpack the latest developments in Trump’s tariff merry-go-round.
Let's take a look at different tariff scenarios.
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.
Domestic steel trade associations, manufacturing groups, and the United Steelworkers (USW) union had mixed reactions to the implementation of new Section 232 tariffs without exclusions on Wednesday. Trade groups representing steel mills broadly supported President Trump’s actions, while the USW and some groups representing manufacturers were more critical. AISI Kevin Dempsey, president and CEO of […]
What are steel buyers saying this week about prices, demand, the import market, the evolving tariff situation, and more?
With the tariff craziness showing no signs of abating, we take you on a tour of the current situation.
“CBP expects full compliance from the trade community for accurate reporting and payment of the additional duties. CBP will take enforcement action on non-compliance," the agency said in a March 7 bulletin.
Section 232 tariffs are expected to go into effect March 12.
The penalties are expected to be reinstated on Wednesday, March 12.
One thing we've learned from our survey here at SMU: When prices are rising, people have a lot to say. You can be assured that with our most recent survey, the comments were coming in fast and furious.
Imposing country-of-origin duties plus the upwardly revised Section 232 duties would create an untenable value for Midwest P1020. Modeling the extreme outcome of 25% country-of-origin tariffs plus 25% Section 232 tariffs could put Midwest physical premiums as high as $0.65 per pound. No, that is not a typo: $0.65 per pound! Primary aluminum supply chains would rotate from importing Canadian aluminum to importing it from India, the Middle East, or other very distant origins. That is worrisome for manufacturers.