Steel Markets

Merger for FCA and Peugeot
Written by Sandy Williams
October 31, 2019
FCA and Peugeot announced a $48 billion merger on Thursday that will make the combined company the fourth largest automaker in the world. The 50/50 merger will have combined revenues of nearly $190 billion and annual unit sales of about 8.6 million vehicles. Together the company will employ roughly 410,000 employees.
Peugeot parent PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler agreed that FCA Chairman John Elkann will be chairman of the combined company and PSA CEO Carlos Tavares will become CEO. The company will be headquartered in the Netherlands.
The merger will help fund the research needed to transition from gas-powered vehicles to electric, said Jessica Caldwell, director of industry analysis at Edmunds.
“The electrified, autonomous future everyone is waiting for just isn’t feasible without automakers merging and forming strategic alliances to share research and development costs,” said Caldwell in a comment to CNN. “This is a smart move by both Fiat Chrysler and PSA to ensure their companies continue to be viable and relevant as the industry evolves.”
FCA and PSA expect $4.1 billion in estimated annual run-rate synergies based on more efficient allocation of resources for large-scale investment and purchasing capability, and without plant closures..

Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Markets

Steel market participants mull the impact of US/Mexico S232 negotiations
Steel market participants learned that negotiations between the US and Mexico include discussions about Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum despite President Trump’s June 3 proclamation increasing the tariffs from 25% to 50% for all steel and aluminum imports—except for those from the UK.

ArcelorMittal plans wire-drawing closure in Hamilton, shifts production to Montreal
ArcelorMittal’s (AM) Hamilton location to be shuttered, wire production shifting to Montreal.

Tariffs, ample domestic supply cause importers to shift or cancel HR import orders
Subdued demand is causing importers to cancel hot-rolled (HR) coil orders and renegotiate the terms of shipments currently enroute to the US, importers say. An executive for a large overseas mill said customers might find it difficult to justify making imports buys after US President Donald Trump doubled the 25% Section 232 tariff on imported steel […]

CRU Insight: A 50% S232 tariff will raise US steel prices and shift trade flows
This CRU Insight examines how the increase in Section 232 tariffs on steel to challenging levels will lead to significatively higher prices for end consumers in the US market.

Steel market shakes tariffs off amid weak demand
Service centers and distributors contend that weak demand is to blame for the flattening of domestic steel spot prices, as reflected in Nucor Steel’s weekly Consumer Spot Price (CSP) notice. On Monday, the Charlotte, North Carolina-headquartered steel producer left prices unchanged from the previous week. Nucor has maintained prices of plate produced in Brandenburg since March 28.