Tag: US

The Chicago Business Barometer increased marginally in September but continues to indicate deteriorating business conditions.

In this Premium analysis we cover oil and natural gas prices, drilling rig activity, and crude oil stock levels in North America. Energy prices and rig counts are advance indicators of demand for oil country tubular goods (OCTG), line pipe, and other steel products.

The amount of raw steel US steel mills produced last week slipped to the lowest rate recorded since early July, according to the latest release from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

US rig counts remain near multi-year lows, which is the territory they have been in for the last three months. Canadian counts have edged lower in the past two weeks, slipping from a six-month high earlier this month.

The latest Federal Reserve data paints a healthy and stable manufacturing sector. Steel Market Update is pleased to share this Premium content with Executive members.

The August Architecture Billings Index (ABI) continued to indicate weak business conditions amongst architecture firms through August, according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Deltek.

SMU’s steel price indices were steady to higher this week. Each of our sheet indices crept upwards from last week, while our plate index was unchanged.

New York state saw a recovery in manufacturing activity in September, according to the latest Empire State Manufacturing Survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

US light-vehicle (LV) sales improved to an unadjusted 1.42 million units in August, up 7.6% from a year ago, the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported.

July represents the second-lowest monthly rate for steel imports so far this year.

Construction spending in the US in July was slightly lower than June. Despite the decline, it increased notably year on year (y/y).

SMU indices moved higher on cold rolled products this week, while galvanized prices were flat. Our indices for plate, hot rolled, and Galvalume all edged lower.

North American auto assemblies slumped by more than 14% from June, falling to a 20-month low in July. Assemblies were also down 1.5% year on year (y/y), according to LMC Automotive data.

US light-vehicle (LV) sales slipped to an unadjusted 1.273 million units in July, down 2% vs. a year-ago, the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported. The year-on-year (y/y) decline in domestic LV sales came despite a 4.2% month-on-month (m/m) rise.

Russel Metals has completed the acquisition of seven service center locations from Samuel, Son, & Co.

Specialty steel maker Metallus, formerly known as TimkenSteel, has officially begun work on a bloom reheating furnace at its Faircrest plant in Ohio.

Shipments of heating and cooling equipment moved higher in June, according to the latest data released from the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). June shipments increased 10% month on month (m/m) to 2.16 million units. This was a 7% boost over the same month last year. June represents the best monthly shipment rate year-to-date, […]

Another month for hot-rolled (HR) coil, and another disappointing one for the bulls. They are still holding onto hope that the bottom is here and still pointing to an imminent uptick in HR prices.

Construction spending in the US in June was slightly lower, declining for the second straight month. Despite the decline it increased notably year on year (y/y).

US drill rig activity resumed its downward trend last week according to the latest data from Baker Hughes. Meanwhile Canadian counts ticked higher for the fifth consecutive week. They now stand near a five-month high.

What a difference a week makes! SMU has shifted its sheet momentum indicators from “lower” to “neutral”. And we’ll be on the lookout for evidence of higher prices in the weeks ahead.

SMU’s sheet price was largely flat this week, an unusual sight for the better part of the past four months. The same trend was seen for tandem products and plate as well.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has come out against Nippon Steel’s proposed buy of U.S. Steel because it doesn’t have union support, according to media reports.

Former U.S. Steel executive Kenneth Jaycox is moving from steel to the automotive parts industry.

When we last talked to Jared Rowe in May, he had just been appointed Reibus International's new CEO and chairman of the board. Now two months into the job, SMU caught up with him on our July 24 Community Chat for the latest on the online metals marketplace.

Japan’s Nippon Steel announced it was withdrawing from a joint venture (JV) with China's Baoshan Iron & Steel (Baosteel) that served the Chinese automotive industry.

Nearly 1,200 people have registered for SMU Steel Summit, which is less than a month away now. That means we’re still on pace to meet or exceed last year’s record attendance despite a tough flat-rolled steel market over the last few months. So, a big thank you to everyone who already plans to go for your continued support. If you haven’t booked travel yet, don’t miss out on one of the greatest shows in steel – register here. (You can also check out the latest agenda here.)

GrafTech cited a “challenging” part of the business cycle as its net loss widened in the second quarter.

A roundup of aluminum news from CRU.

Drilling activity rose in both the US and Canada last week, according to the latest data release from Baker Hughes. US rig activity increased to a six-week high but remains near multi-year lows. Canadian counts continue to improve, now at a 20-week high.