Steel Products Prices North America
Klöckner To Acquire National Material of Mexico
Written by Becca Moczygemba
December 19, 2022
Klöckner & Co. announced an agreement to buy Mexican metal supplier National Material of Mexico (NMM) for $340 million. The Duisburg, Germany–based service center said the transaction will be completed through Klöckner & Co.’s U.S. subsidiary, Kloeckner Metals Corp. (KMC). NMM is an independent service center with seven locations throughout Mexico. The company specializes in the processing of hot-rolled, cold-rolled, grain oriented, and non-oriented steel, among other varieties, serving the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC); home appliance; and motor and transformer industries. The expansion will increase KMC’s North American presence with prominent automotive and industrial customers, and boost exposure to the growing electrical vehicle market. “The high complementarity of regional presence, customer segments and NMM’s significant footprint within the automotive sector make the transaction a natural step for both parties,” Klöckner said in a statement. “In general, Mexico is a very attractive location for KMC, given its proximity to the USA and its well-qualified labor market,” the company noted. “All major global automotive companies are producing in the country and the number of vehicles manufactured there is expected to grow significantly going forward.”

Becca Moczygemba
Read more from Becca MoczygembaLatest in Steel Products Prices North America

Domestic plate prices could heat up despite so-so demand, market sources say
Some sources also speculated that plate could see further price increases thanks to modest but steady demand, lower imports, mill maintenance outages, and end markets less immediately affected by tariff-related disruptions.

SMU Price Ranges: HR holds, galv slips amid competing market narratives
SMU’s sheet and plate prices see-sawed this week as hot-rolled (HR) coil prices held their ground while prices for galvanized product slipped.

Nucor carries $875/ton HR list price into week seven
Nucor is keeping hot-rolled (HR) coil prices unchanged again this week, according to its latest consumer spot price (CSP) notice issued on Monday, Oct. 6

SMU Price Ranges: A newsy week sees modest price gains despite a quiet spot market
Market participants predicted that prices should be at or near a bottom. But while most seemed to agree on that point, many also said they saw little upside given a quiet spot market and ongoing concerns about demand.

Nucor increases plate prices by $60/ton
Nucor aims to increase prices for steel plate by $60 per short ton with the opening of its November order book.