Steel Markets

Institutional Sector Leads Dodge Momentum Index in April
Written by Sandy Williams
May 7, 2021
The Dodge Momentum Index gained 8.6% in April, jumping to 162.4. The index has rebounded 77% from its nine-year low in January. Compared to April 2020, the first full month of COVID-19 shutdowns, the index is 31% higher, said Dodge Data & Analytics.
Construction projects in healthcare and laboratories are driving the institutional sector’s 50% year-over-year increase. The commercial sector softened somewhat in April as fewer warehouse projects entered the planning phase but is still 21% higher than a year ago.
Thirteen projects valued at $100 million or more entered the planning stage last month. “April’s data highlights the nascent recovery underway in institutional building,” said Dodge. “However, given the average length of time between planning and project start, this rise will likely not impact construction starts until late 2021 or early 2022.”
The Dodge Momentum Index is a monthly measure of the first report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year.

Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Markets

Hot-rolled sources say demand continues to dwindle, prices feel arbitrary
Genuine demand, they stated, will return when the market feels stable again.

FabArc Steel Supply completes projects in Mississippi, Georgia
FabArc Steel Supply announced this week the completion of two large-scale projects in Georgia and Mississippi.

Thin demand keeps plate prices hovering at lowest levels since February
Participants in the domestic plate market say spot prices appear to have hit the floor, and they continue to linger there. They say demand for steel remains thin, with plate products no exception.

Worldsteel: Global steel demand flat, but modest rebound forecast for 2026
The World Steel Association (worldsteel) Short Range Outlook for global steel demand predicts that 2025’s steel demand will clock in at the same level as in 2024. In its October report, the Brussels-based association stated that this year’s steel demand will reach ~1,750 million metric tons (mt). The organization forecasts a 1.3% demand rebound in 2026, pushing […]

CRU: China’s indirect steel exports find new destination markets
The boom in China’s direct steel exports has not stopped this year, even with a rise in protectionist measures globally. The increase is driven by...