• Skip to main content

    Product

    Pre-Summit Offers Value You Can Apply to the Market

    Written by Tim Triplett


    After a strong start to 2017, global steel prices have trended downward due to weaker demand and falling raw materials pricing. In the U.S., the impending Section 232 investigation has left the market in a state of uncertainty. All the more reason steel buyers should have a strategy for mitigating risk, says Ryan Huff, Associate Partner with the Applied Value Group in New York.

    Huff will be a featured speaker during SMU Steel Summit Pre-Summit program at 3 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 28, in Salons E-H of the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway Hotel, adjacent to the Georgia International Convention Center. Assisting Huff will be David Feldstein of Flack Global Metals. The pair will provide real-world insights into risk mitigation strategies and how they can be used to develop business and protect customers.

    Latest in Product

    November scrap prices rise as market nears settle

    November scrap procurement has commenced in the US with buyers divided on the price increases from the previous month. Several mills reportedly sought a rise of $20 per gross ton (gt) while others saw $30/gt as the number. The $30/gt price tag mainly applies to the obsolete grades, like shredded, P&S and #1 HMS, with prime grades pulling up the rear at $20. SMU spoke to a Chicago-based source who said that market was up $30/gt and 20/gt on shredded and busheling, respectively. He also mentioned the integrated mills in this district are after heavier grades like P&S and railroad grades, like wheels. These grades have been in short supply since last summer. Our source believes they commanded prices up $30/gt while busheling was at plus $20.

    Nucor temporarily halted secondary offers, rattling a tight US market

    Nucor opened its secondary and excess product bid list across all its flat-rolled mills last Monday, as it typically does, market participants told SMU. But by Wednesday, when bidding was scheduled to close, Nucor notified buyers it would not be awarding any bids that week. The abrupt close sent a shock through the secondary market, they said. “There will be no awards this week,” emails from Nucor sales representatives to customers confirmed. “Effective immediately, we are placing a temporary hold on all secondary sales.”

    SMU scrap market survey results now available

    SMU’s November ferrous scrap market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members. After logging in at steelmarketupdate.com, visit the Pricing and Analysis tab and look under the “survey results” section for Ferrous Scrap Survey results. Past scrap survey results are also available under that selection. If you need help accessing the survey results or if your company would like to have your voice heard in our future surveys, contact smu@crugroup.com.

    Drilling activity ticks up in the US, eases in Canada

    The latest tally of active drilling rigs moved marginally higher in the US, up for the first time in five weeks. Activity eased in Canada this week, according to oil and gas rig count data published by Baker Hughes. The US rig count increased to 604 rigs this week, setting an 18-month high watermark. Compared with this time last year, 56 more rigs are in operation today. Canada’s count declined by three to 223 rigs this week, easing for the first time in three weeks. Activity is up from the same week of 2025, with 32 more rigs operating today.