CRU: U.S. Ferroalloys Trade Lower

By CRU Prices Analyst Estelle Tran, from CRU’s Bulk Ferro Alloys Monitor

The steel market got a stronger than expected start to the year, lifting year-to-date U.S. steel mill capability utilization to 82.1 percent—the highest level since May 2019, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. The Institute for Supply Management reported that the U.S. manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) moved back into expansion territory in January with a reading of 50.9, ending a five-month period of contraction that began in August. Seasonal restocking has bolstered steel demand and, as a result, the ferroalloys market has seen end-users increase offtake from their long-term contracts.

Estelle Tran

Estelle Tran is a senior analyst at CRU based in Pittsburgh. Estelle joined CRU as a steel and ferroalloy prices analyst in October 2017. She is the main contact for data providers who contribute to the CRU Midwest flat-rolled steel indices. She is also the editor of the Steel Monitor and analyzes the monthly service center inventories report for Steel Market Update. Prior to joining CRU, Estelle worked at S&P Global Platts, reporting on flat-rolled steel, long steel, primary aluminum and trade issues. She earned a B.A. in English writing and history from the University of Pittsburgh. Estelle is also past president of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Association of Women in the Metal Industries and the Northeast regional vice chair.