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    Analysis

    July 14, 2026

    SMU Survey: Mills benefit from tariffs as buyers wait for supply

    Written by Laura Miller

    SMU’s July 10 Flat-Rolled Steel Survey results paint a picture of a steel market being squeezed from every direction. Tariffs are holding prices up and giving mills a clear advantage, while manufacturers and traders say the policy is pushing their costs higher. The Iran conflict is still disrupting freight, though its impact is slowly easing. Even so, buyers say the real pressure now is simple availability. Spot tons are scarce, imports are stalled, and many expect no real relief until late summer.

    Uneven tariff impact

    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.

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