Tag: US

Both of our Sentiment Indices remain in positive territory and indicate that steel buyers are optimistic about the success of their businesses.

We have seen very little change in sheet and plate prices across the past month.

Referred to as ‘apparent steel supply’, we calculate this volume by combining domestic steel mill shipments with finished US steel imports and deducting total US steel exports.

The volume of steel exported from the country declined in October for the second-consecutive month, following a one-year high in August.

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, SMU polled steel buyers on an array of topics, ranging from market prices, demand, and inventories to imports and evolving market events.

Vedoya said the proposed tariffs are "an irrational measure that would harm both their own industry and ours."

During the first 10 months of this year, construction spending rose about 7.2% over last year.

The move comes less than two months after Tavares announced that he would step down in early 2026.

Weekly raw steel production has hovered in this territory for the last two months, now at the sixth lowest rate of the year.

US manufacturing activity contracted again in November for the eighth consecutive month.

About 23% of respondents expect an uptick in economic activity in the next three months. That’s an increase over the 13% in October.

The Chicago Business Barometer continues to indicate deteriorating business conditions in November, easing to a six-month low, according to Market News International (MNI) and the Institute for Supply Management (ISM).

US rig activity has remained in multi-year low territory since June. Drilling in Canada has edged lower across the last few weeks but remains historically strong.

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.

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.

US housing starts moved lower through October, declining for a second straight month after peaking in August, according to the latest data release from the US Census Bureau. Total housing starts stood at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 1.31 million units in October, a 3.1% dip from September’s 1.35 million units. At the […]

North American auto assemblies rallied in October, rising 11.3% above September, reaching the best output year to date. Assemblies were also up 7% year on-year (y/y), according to LMC Automotive data.

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.

Nucor’s weekly consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled coil was unchanged week on week at $740 per short ton as of Monday, Nov. 4.

After closing the third quarter -3.84% on a y/y basis, our first look at fourth-quarter flatbed spot rates puts us virtually flat y/y, coming in at -0.68%.

September marked the lowest month for steel imports so far this year, according to preliminary Census data released by the Commerce Department.

The volume of finished steel entering the US market declined in August from July, according to SMU’s analysis of data from the US Department of Commerce and the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Referred to as ‘apparent steel supply,’ we calculate this monthly rate by combining domestic steel mill shipments and finished US steel imports and deducting total US steel exports.

Prices, demand, inventories, evolving market events... What are buyers and sellers of steel talking about this week?

August now represents the second-highest monthly shipment rate recorded in the last two years, just below the 2.16 million units rate recorded in June.

North American auto assemblies fell by nearly 7% from August, but were still ahead of July’s 20-month low. Assemblies were also down just under 1% year on year (y/y), according to LMC Automotive data.

US light-vehicle (LV) sales fell to an unadjusted 1.17 million units in September, down 12.8% from a year ago, the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported. Despite the year-on-year (y/y) drop, domestic LV sales rose 3.3% month on month (m/m).

US drill rig activity saw a slight increase from last week but continues to hover near multi-year lows. In Canada, rig counts dipped last week but near one of the highest levels recorded in the past seven months.

SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices moved in different directions this week. Our Current Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Index eased to a six-week low, while Future Buyers’ Sentiment ticked up to a four-week high. Both of our Indices continue to indicate optimism among steel buyers.

Negotiation rates have consistently been in the 70-80% range for over two months, relatively strong in comparison to levels seen across the past year.

US drilling activity remains near multi-year lows, while Canadian counts increased to one of the highest levels recorded in seven months.