Long Products
October 13, 2026
Written by Laura Miller
Nucor and Gerdau have announced price increases for merchant bar quality (MBQ) products.
The Nucor Bar Mill Group informed customers on Oct. 8 that it was raising prices on all MBQ products by $30 per short ton (st). The move was effective for new orders received after the close of business on Oct. 8.
Mexican longs producer Deacero has cast the first billet at its new minimill in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, moving the Danieli-supplied caster into commissioning. It's a key milestone for Deacero's $600-million Ramos II mini-mill, said Italian plant engineering and equipment provider. "The achievement further strengthens the long-standing collaboration between Deacero and Danieli, and further confirms Danieli’s already-established presence in the Mexican long-products market," the company said in a statement on Nov. 2.
Gerdau announced on Nov. 2 that it will raise special bar quality (SBQ) prices by $60 per short ton ($3/cwt). The increase is effective for all new orders and shipments starting Jan. 1, 2027, according to a letter sent to customers. It applies to all hot-rolled carbon and alloy SBQ products, including rounds, squares, flats, special sections, and thermally processed products.
Brazilian steelmaker Gerdau’s North American operations posted higher profits in the third quarter as shipments increased. The company posted adjusted EBITDA of 2,912 million reais (USD$567 million) in the third quarter ended Sept. 30 for its North American operations, up 60% from 1,820 million reais from a year earlier. Net sales rose 14% to 10,512 million reais in the same comparison.
Steel production is set to return to California next year. Pacific Steel Group broke ground on its Mojave Micro Mill in Kern County, just outside Los Angeles, earlier this year. It marked what California Governor Gavin Newsom recently touted as the first steel mill to break ground in the state in more than 50 years. The plant is scheduled to begin commissioning in the first quarter of 2027, and the project is expected to create ~700 jobs. Before Pacific Steel, the last mill to break ground in California was the Kaiser Steel plant in Fontana, 50 miles outside of Hollywood. The plant was built to supply the World War II effort and began operating in 1942. It eventually shut down in 1983. Today, the site is home to California Steel Industries (CSI), a joint venture between Nucor and JFE Steel. CSI is a reroller and does not melt its own steel.
Reliance Inc. is keeping a close eye on inventory as extended lead times, elevated prices, and tight material availability complicate purchasing decisions. Executives at the Phoenix-based service center said on Thursday's third-quarter earnings call that inventory levels were appropriate. The company is reducing excess inventory and focusing on inventory turns. Chief Financial Officer Arthur Ajemyan said inventory turns improved 10% year over year.