Market Segment
October 10, 2023
Written by Becca Moczygemba
The construction sector added 11,000 jobs in September, according to the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).
The AGC said on Oct. 6 that firms raised pay faster than other jobs as unemployment rates for construction fell to historically low levels. The unemployment rate among jobseekers with construction experience dropped to 3.8% last month.
U.S. Steel’s profits soared in the third quarter amid higher steel prices and increased shipments. The Pittsburgh-based steelmaker reported net earnings attributable to USS of $859 million in the third quarter, up 759% from $100 million a year earlier. Net sales rose 26% to $4.78 billion in the same comparison. The company said all four of its operating segments generated positive results in Q3’26.
ArcelorMittal expects North American steel shipments to be flat sequentially in the fourth quarter, as recovery from Canadian and Mexican disruptions is expected to be offset by normal seasonality and maintenance. The company reported third-quarter shipments of 2.645 million metric tons, down 6.6% sequentially but up 1% year over year (y/y). It attributed the shipment decline primarily to lower long product volumes. North America sales were nearly $3.7 billion in Q3’26, nearly level with the previous quarter but 11% higher y/y. Average selling prices rose 5.7% sequentially to $1,228 per metric ton (mt).
Algoma Steel has secured a contract to supply up to 24,000 metric tons of structural steel plate for Seaspan Shipyards’ Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker program. The agreement, valued at about $182 million Canadian, covers steel for up to six multi-purpose icebreakers, at ~4,000 metric tons per vessel. Algoma will produce the plate, with Stigterstaal Canada serving as the marine steel processing and distribution partner. The order is the largest polar-class steel order in Algoma’s history, according to the companies.
The US Department of Commerce recently made adjustments to the anti-dumping duties (AD) on certain steel pipe and tube imports after annual administrative reviews, according to notices in the Federal Register.
After an annual administrative review, the US Department of Commerce is adjusting the countervailing duties (CVDs) on imports of cut-to-length carbon-quality steel plate from South Korea.