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    Analysis

    April 19, 2026

    Final Thoughts: Steel remains bullish despite concerns about higher fuel, freight costs

    Written by Michael Cowden

    Editor’s note: The article below presents some highlights from SMU’s most recent steel market survey. The page numbers in the charts below refer to where in the survey results deck you can find them. Our premium subscribers received this deck on Friday. It’s also available to them on our website here. If you’d like to upgrade from an executive subscription to a premium subscription, let me know at michael@steelmarketupdate.com.

    The flat-rolled steel market looks poised for continued gains despite widespread concerns about higher fuel and freight costs stemming from the Iran War, according to SMU’s latest steel market survey.

    Michael Cowden

    Michael Cowden is editor-in-chief for Steel Market Update. Cowden has covered the steel industry since 2007. He specializes in flat-rolled steel but has also reported on steel long products, steel pipe and tube, and aluminum. Before joining SMU, Cowden held reporting jobs at Fastmarkets AMM in Chicago, the Associated Press in Pittsburgh, and the Cambodia Daily in Phnom Penh. He has also worked as a copy editor and in marketing at the University of Chicago Press. Cowden has a BA in English from the University of Chicago and an MSJ journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Contact him at michael@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7872.

    Read more from Michael Cowden

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