• Skip to main content

    Analysis

    North American Auto Assemblies Edge Down in April

    Written by David Schollaert


    North American auto assemblies declined by 15.5% in April, edging down for the first time year-to-date, and for the first time since last November. Last month’s assemblies, however, were still 7.8% higher year-on-year (YoY), according to LMC Automotive data.

    While supply levels began to rebound in the second half of last year, inventories fell modestly in April for the first time in nine months, in part due to seasonal factors. The dynamic is expected to be a short stall as auto production props up over the coming months on improved supply chain pressures.

    David Schollaert

    Read more from David Schollaert

    Latest in Analysis

    Turkish scrap market eyeing higher prices

    The situation in Turkey for procuring ferrous scrap for its steel industry is facing some difficult times. As obsolescent scrap flows start to abate in Northern Europe and the US with the onset of the winter and the holiday season, the price of buying scrap for this period is trending upward. The domestic market in the US is expected to rise in November, possibly in December, and definitely in January as the US melt rate shows no signs of lessening. In Europe, the main problem is supply as the Turkish mills have leaned on this region heavily over the last two months rather than sourcing enough higher priced US cargoes. The European suppliers can only sell what is convenient at this point without an increase in price.

    GrafTech losses widen, modest demand growth still expected

    GrafTech International continues to expect modest growth in graphite electrode demand for the full year of 2026. The company reaffirmed its expectation of a 5-10% year-over-year increase in graphite electrode sales volume as it seeks to gain market share. “Overall, we continue to see improving trends across several of our key regions,” CEO Tim Flanagan said on a conference call Friday to discuss its third quarter results.

    Reliance says caution around foreign buys makes import flood unlikely

    Reliance Inc. is keeping a close eye on inventory as extended lead times, elevated prices, and tight material availability complicate purchasing decisions. Executives at the Phoenix-based service center said on Thursday's third-quarter earnings call that inventory levels were appropriate. The company is reducing excess inventory and focusing on inventory turns. Chief Financial Officer Arthur Ajemyan said inventory turns improved 10% year over year.

    Final Thoughts: Is the steel market now tighter than in 2021?

    "Now, the problem is no longer the price. The problem is having access to steel." That would have made a good lead. But I can’t take credit for it. Those (very quotable) words are from Cleveland-Cliffs Chairman and CEO Lourenco Goncalves during the steelmaker’s quarterly earnings conference call on Monday. For a while, I thought the shortages we'd been hearing about might be mostly a problem for small- and mid-sized buyers. But we’re seeing even some of the biggest steel buyers talking openly about supply problems.

    Commerce lowers Mexico’s dumping rate in CORE case

    The US Department of Commerce has reduced the anti-dumping duty on corrosion-resistant steel (CORE) for some Mexican producers after a court order. On remand from the Court of International Trade (CIT), Commerce agreed that the record did not show that Galvasid SA de CV’s US customers separately negotiated or paid freight or insurance. The agency therefore removed the adjustment and recalculated the margin. As a result, the agency lowered Galvasid’s coated steel dumping rate to 14.54%, from 24.05%. The all-others rate is now 14.29%, down from 17.42%. Ternium’s rate is unchanged at 14.17%.