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    Analysis

    June 2, 2026

    SMU Survey: N. American demand edges higher while import interest stays selective

    Written by Laura Miller

    US steel buyers report firmer domestic demand, but long lead times, rising freight costs, and geopolitical uncertainty continue to cause caution on imports.

    North American orders are ticking up, according to multiple traders responding to SMU’s May 29 steel buyers’ survey. Three-quarters of traders reported demand as increasing (slide 54 below). One trader noted “sentiment is positive,” even as supply tightness persists. Another said demand is higher, but it’s “hard to source competitively.”

    Laura Miller

    Laura Miller is a reporter and editor for Steel Market Update. She has held various editorial positions with steel industry publications, associations, and mills since 2007. She joined the SMU team in 2022. She is a member of the Association of Women in the Metal Industries and a past-president of the AWMI Pittsburgh Chapter. She holds a BA in Latin American Studies from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

    Read more from Laura Miller

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