Steel Mills

Sources: CSI Opens April Flat-rolled Order Book, Quietly Raises Prices
Written by Michael Cowden
January 19, 2021
California Steel Industries (CSI) has opened its April flat-rolled order book, and it has done so at sharply higher prices, according to some market participants.
“California Steel Industries reserves the right to review any previously quoted requirements that have not been placed, acknowledged or confirmed in writing,” the West Coast slab converter said in a letter to customers Jan. 18.
CSI often announces higher prices at the same that it notifies customers that order books are open.
The company did not officially announce higher prices for April. But market participants said CSI and another West Coast steel supplier aim to increase prices by $200 per ton ($10/cwt) or more versus March levels–albeit quietly through calls or emails to individual customers rather than via widely distributed announcements.
The steep price hikes come in part because West Coast mills want to catch up to ever higher flat-rolled steel prices from producers east of the Rocky Mountains. Those mills have been lifting tags, largely announced, at least every week and perhaps as often as with every new offer, sources said.
By Michael Cowden, michael@steelmarketupdate.com

Michael Cowden
Read more from Michael CowdenLatest in Steel Mills

August US mill shipments slip but still higher than last year
The American Iron and Steel Institute reported a decline in the monthly shipments of US mills from July to August.

TransPod, Algoma, Supreme Steel linkup anchors Canadian steel in high-speed transit build
The three Canadian companies have announced a strategic partnership to support the development of an ultra-high-speed transit line from Edmonton to Calgary.

Metallus, USW agree to tentative four-year labor deal
Metallus and the United Steelworkers (USW) have agreed to a tentative four-year labor contract.

ArcelorMittal Dofasco resumes cokemaking after emergency maintenance
The Canadian steelmaker reported on Sept. 30 that “urgent maintenance” was needed in its coke plant off-gas systems. The work required coke oven gas from the No. 2 coke plant to be flared for most of that week.

AISI: Raw steel production ticks back down
US raw steel output declined last week after increasing the week prior, according to the latest data from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Output has see-sawed from week to week since mid-August. Still, it has remained historically strong over the past four months and has held near multi-year highs since June. Domestic mills […]