Category: Analysis

US steel production slipped in the week ending on Aug. 30 after an increase the week before, according to the most recent data from the American Iron and Steel Institute.

Ternium CEO Máximo Vedoya predicts that China is going to reduce its steel overcapacity.  

Nucor kept its weekly list price for hot-rolled (HR) coil unchanged this week, following a price bump of $10 per short ton (st) last week.

Nucor’s Dan Needham views the steelmaker’s flexibility and diversification as key to pivoting when economic conditions require.

Steel executives packed the main conference hall of the 2025 SMU Steel Summit on Tuesday, Aug. 26, to hear economist Dr. Anirban Basu lay out his blunt view of tariffs, inflation, and demand.

Thais Terzian, principal analyst at CRU, gave a presentation of Ore-Based Metallics(OBM), namely pig iron and direct-reduced iron (DRI), and how important they are to the global steel industry.

Another record-breaking SMU Steel Summit is in the books. Thanks to all of you – attendees, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors – for making it possible it in what has been an uncertain year for steel.

Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) President and Chief Operating Officer, Barry Schneider, remains bullish about the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based steelmaker’s position in the current market.  

Domestic hot-rolled (HR) coil prices were flat this week, while offshore prices varied week over week (w/w). The price margin between stateside and foreign product was little changed as a result.

Most steelmaking raw material prices we track saw little change across the month of August. Iron ore, pig iron, shredded scrap, busheling scrap, zinc, and aluminum prices all held relatively steady,

Steel Market Update will be taking time off in observance of Labor Day.

Steel prices, end-use demand, inventory levels, tariffs, imports, and evolving market events... what is the steel industry talking about this week?

Steel Summit 2025 has just launched, and we're off to an amazing start.

Steel prices remained largely unchanged this week, staying at or near lows last seen in February. All five sheet and plate products tracked by SMU moved by no more than $5 per short ton (st) from the previous week.

World crude steel output declined for a second straight month in July, falling 2% from June to an estimated 150.1 million metric tons (mt), according to recent data published by the World Steel Association (worldsteel).

Panelists laid out what they look for in mergers and acquisitions at SMU Steel Summit 2025 on Tuesday in Atlanta.

Domestic mill output increased last week, according to the latest data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Production remains historically strong, holding near multi-year highs since June.

The big show is here again. SMU Steel Summit begins on Monday. This year, like last year, more than 1,500 people will be joining us. And I couldn’t be more excited to have everyone here in Atlanta.

Across the US and throughout the steel supply chain, market participants are reporting another painfully quiet week for hot-rolled (HR) coil sales.  

On Thursday, the U.S. and EU agreed to more concrete terms to their handshake deal of last month.

Domestic sheet prices in the US remained under pressure, limiting interest in imports, while domestic prices for longs products continued to rise.

SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices moved in opposing directions this week. Our Current Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Index dropped to one of the lowest levels recorded in over five years, while Future Buyers’ Sentiment inched higher.

SMU’s latest steel buyers market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members. After logging in at steelmarketupdate.com, visit the pricing and analysis tab and look under the “survey results” section for “latest survey results.” Past survey results are also available under that selection. If you need help accessing the survey results, or if […]

With SMU Steel Summit starting in just a few days, I decided to go back and do a quick check on where things stand now compared to the week before Summit last year.

Steel buyers report steady lead times for sheet and plate products, a soft-sideways trend we've seen since May.

The majority of steel buyers responding to our market survey this week continue to say that mills are negotiable on new spot order prices. Negotiation rates have remained high since May.

HRC prices in the US eroded further last week, while offshore prices varied week over week (w/w), widening the price margin between stateside and foreign product.

Is a pattern finally emerging in the post-Liberation Day tariff landscape?

Sheet and plate prices were flat or lower again this week on continued concerns about demand and higher production rates among US mills.

SMU’s Mill Order Index (MOI) moved higher in July after rebounding the month prior. The shift comes after mill orders declined from March through May.