Analysis
September 24, 2026
Written by David Schollaert
SMU’s Steel Demand Index rose to 69.5 in mid-September, its highest reading in more than five years.
The index increased from 66.55 in early September and has nearly doubled from 37.5 a year ago, signaling broad-based improvement in flat-rolled steel demand as supply remains constrained.
The US Department of Commerce has preliminarily determined that critical circumstances exist in the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of imports of large-diameter graphite electrodes (LDGEs) from China.
SMU’s Mill Order Index (MOI) accelerated in August for a fourth consecutive month, reaching its strongest reading in nearly five years.
Worthington Enterprises reported higher fiscal first-quarter sales and earnings while citing rapidly growing data center demand and continued tightness in the steel market.
Sheet and plate prices continued to tick mostly higher this week amid a supply squeeze that shows no signs of loosening its grip on the US market.