• Skip to main content

    Market Data

    April 8, 2017

    US Oil & Gas Rigs Continue Their Comeback

    Written by Brett Linton

    According to Baker Hughes data from April 7, 2017, the US rig count for the week was 839 rigs exploring for or developing oil or natural gas. This is up 15 rigs compared to last week, with oil rigs up 10 to 672 rigs, gas rigs up 5 to 165 rigs, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 2 rigs. Compared to this time last year, the 839 count is up 396 rigs, with oil rigs up 318, gas rigs up 76, and miscellaneous rigs up 2.

    The Canadian rig count decreased by 23 to 132 rigs this past week, with oil rigs down 13 to 42 rigs, gas rigs down 10 to 90 rigs, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 0 rigs. Compared to last year the 132 count is up 91 rigs, with oil rigs up 34, gas rigs up 57, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged. International rigs increased by 2 to 943 rigs for the month of March, a decrease of 42 rigs from the same month one year ago. For a history of both the US and Canadian rig count, visit the Steel Market Update website here.

    Brett Linton

    Brett Linton is a digital operations analyst for Steel Market Update, where he began his career. Linton has been in the steel industry since 2010. He has held roles as a category manager and strategic insights director at Reibus before returning to SMU in 2024. He is a graduate of The University of North Georgia with a degree in Finance and Accounting. Brett can be reached at brett@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-314-0179.

    Read more from Brett Linton

    Latest in Market Data

    Final Thoughts: Do Mesabi Metallics and Hyundai-POSCO signal more foreign steel investment in US?

    Could two new steel projects signal a new direction in the marketplace? Both Mesabi Metallics’ recently announced steel facility in Iowa and the Hyundai-POSCO’s proposed mill in Louisiana are major undertakings. You don’t spitball a major steel mill and then start producing the next day. From initial concept to site selection and on up to the first melt, there is a labyrinth of permitting, planning, and construction to navigate before the first heat.

    Lead times extend deeper into 2027, some see no availability until late Feb

    Lead times for sheet and plate products continue to extend in a US steel market still in the grip of a historic supply squeeze, according to the latest SMU steel market survey data. Average lead times now extend into late January 2027, with some mills not quoting availability until mid/late February. Lead times for all sheet products except Galvalume stand at their highest point since the post-Covid demand snapback in 2021. And plate lead times have exceeded their 2021 peak, repeatedly setting new record highs in our data series over the past month. (We started collecting plate lead time data in 2018. Our sheet lead time figures go back to 2012.)

    SMU flat-rolled market survey results now available

    The results of the latest Steel Market Update (SMU) flat-rolled market survey are now available on our website to all premium members. After logging in, look under the Data tab for Market Reports, and there you will find the Flat-Rolled Survey Results section. Previous survey results are also available on that page. If you need help accessing these results, or if your company would like to have your voice heard in our future surveys, contact smu@crugroup.com.

    SMU Survey: Steel mill negotiations remain rare as buyers face tight supply

    Only 5% of steel buyers surveyed by SMU this week said mills were willing to negotiate lower prices for new spot orders, suggesting mills retain substantial pricing leverage in a tight market. The share rose two percentage points from our previous survey two weeks ago but was nine points below the mid-October reading. This week's rate is just slightly higher than our previous survey when the negotiation rate fell to 3% — its lowest level since July 2021. Negotiation rates have trended downward all year as steel prices have continued to climb.