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    June 12, 2025

    EPA deregulation proposals win praise from steel advocates

    Written by Kristen DiLandro

    The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA) have thrown their support behind two new proposals from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would roll back power plant emissions regulations, ultimately supporting domestic steel production.

    On June 11, the EPA announced plans to repeal all greenhouse gas emissions standards for the power sector under the Clean Air Act. The agency also proposed repealing parts of the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), which it says “directly result in coal-fired power plants having to shut down.”

    Kristen DiLandro

    Kristen DiLandro is a reporter for Steel Market Update. Kristen focuses on the micro and macro steel market conditions informing North American spot prices. Following her agency career in advertising, she attained an MFA in Writing from Savannah College of Art and Design. Kristen can be reached at kristen@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-221-8143.

    Read more from Kristen DiLandro

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    September service center shipments and inventories report

    US service centers’ flat-rolled steel supply increased marginally in September, gaining ground for only the second time all year. Shipping days of supply rose to 45.9 last month, according to SMU data. That figure marks a 3.7% increase from August. September’s result represents a modest gain after inventories hit a five-year low the previous month. But it’s nearly 16% below September 2025 levels. Sheet inventories have averaged ~45 shipping days of supply over the past six months. Flat-rolled inventories represented 2.18 months of supply in September, up 3.7% from August. However, the figure was 15.5% below September 2025. The month-on-month (m/m) gain in inventories resulted from a boost (+21.2%) in intake that was partially offset by a 5% increase in shipments.