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    March 19, 2021

    CRU: U.S. Anticipates Wave of Imports in Tight Steel Market

    Written by Estelle Tran

    By CRU Prices Analyst Estelle Tran, from CRU’s Global Steel Trade Service

    The strength and longevity of the current uptrend in steel prices has surprised many market participants, and mill maintenance outages are expected to keep lead times extended. The latest lead time survey on March 15-17 from Steel Market Update, which is part of CRU, pegged mill HR coil lead times at 8.8 weeks. Severe winter weather in mid-February created massive power outages and disrupted steel production in the Southern U.S. and Northern Mexico. With mills running behind schedule and controlling order entry, inventories continue to be at low levels.

    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.

    Read more from Estelle Tran

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