Category: Features

The constant flow of information we all receive can be a little overwhelming, but SMU is here to help with a snapshot of the week.

After last year’s historic turnout, the buzz around SMU’s Steel Summit 2025 is picking up. So, it’s no surprise room blocks are going quick, and I mean FAST. Get ready for another blockbuster event! This year’s meeting of the North American flat-rolled steel industry is shaping up to be another record-setting gathering with a timely […]

SMU’s Buyers’ Sentiment Indices experienced multi-point declines this week, though both remain positive and continue to reflect optimism among steel buyers for their companies' ability to be successful.

Supply chains are working through what the tariffs mean for them

The number of active oil and gas drill rigs declined this week in both the US and Canada, according to the latest data from Baker Hughes. US rig counts remain just above multi-year lows, while Canadian activity continues its seasonal slowdown.

The US Commerce Department on Friday released preliminary anti-dumping margins in a trade case targeted imports of coated flat-rolled steel from 10 countries. Certain countries and mills were hammered while others were largely spared. Brazilian steelmaker CSN, for example, received a preliminary rate of 137.76%. Some Turkish mills – including Boreclik and ArcelorMittal Celik Ticaret – received no dumping margin at all.

Scrap buyers sound off on prices, demand, etc., in SMU's monthly scrap survey.

Latest tariffs could lead to US metallurgical coal exporters (many already high-cost swing producers) being priced out of the market.

Who could’ve guessed that the first stage to follow liberation would be confusion. Well, when things get this liberated this fast, perhaps it’s to be expected. From the 30,000-foot view, “Liberation Day” didn’t have a significant impact on steel tariff-wise. That is, the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs stand alone from the reciprocal tariffs […]

Canada imposes auto tariffs, while automaker Stellantis temporarily idles some plants.

US steel trade groups representing mills had a far more positive reaction to President Trump’s “Liberation Day” than the leading recycled metals association.

The Commerce Department has made a preliminary determination that ‘critical circumstances’ exist for certain imports of corrosion-resistant (CORE) flat-rolled steel from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Commerce decided that critical circumstances did not apply to CORE from South Africa. The department also found that critical circumstances did not apply to CORE from UAE producers Al-Ghurair Iron & Steel LLC and United Iron & Steel Company LLC.

Buyers responding to our latest market survey reported that sheet lead times continue to gradually decline from recent highs. Meanwhile, plate lead times increased to levels last seen one year ago.

Four out of every five steel buyers who responded to our latest market survey say domestic mills are unwilling to negotiate on new order spot pricing. Mills have shown little flexibility on pricing for nearly two months.

President Trump’s promised “Liberation Day” has arrived, with a 10% minimum tariff on imports. But there are some very important exceptions: The United States’ USMCA partners, Canada and Mexico, are excluded from the reciprocal tariffs for now. In addition, steel, aluminum, as well as autos and auto parts are excluded from the reciprocal tariffs. That’s […]

The market breathlessly awaits the arrival of President Trump's "Liberation Day."

SMU’s Monthly Review provides a summary of our key steel market metrics for the previous month, with the latest data updated through March 31.

Raw steel mill output from US mills rebounded last week, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Production is now at the highest weekly rate recorded so far this year.

I’m not sure what I can write today that won’t be old news after April 2. The Trump administration has dubbed Wednesday “Liberation Day.” Since it’s mostly about tariffs, let’s just call it “Tariff Day.” Or maybe we should call it “Tariff Week” – since tariffs typically dominate the news cycle in the first week […]

Trump's new auto tariffs will apply to passenger vehicles (including sedans, sport utility vehicles, crossover utility vehicles, minivans, and cargo vans), light trucks, and certain automobile parts (including engines and engine parts, transmissions and powertrain parts, and electrical components).

Anticipation leading up to SMU’s Steel Summit 2025 is already heating up after last year’s record-setting attendance!

The constant flow of information we all receive can be a little overwhelming, but SMU is here to help with a snapshot of the week.

Victor Cairo, head of Mexico’s steel sector body Canacero and CEO of ArcelorMittal Mexico, says he is confident negotiations between the Mexican and US governments planned for April 2 will lead to the creation of a regional block to substitute imports, especially from Asia.

Crowe's Doug Schrock explains how to get up and running with AI at your company.

US rig counts remain slightly above multi-year lows, while Canadian activity is slowing following a seasonal peak.

A personal perspective on Galvalume prices from SMU analyst Brett Linton.

During the chat, we’ll discuss trends in the North American sheet and plate markets, as well as the unique aspects of the Canadian market. We’ll talk all thing tariffs — and the timing couldn’t be better in the wake of Liberation Day on April 2.

Upon the request of US chassis manufacturers, the Commerce Department this week initiated investigations into the alleged dumping and subsidization of chassis imported from Mexico, Thailand, and Vietnam.

This week, SMU polled steel buyers on an array of topics, including market prices, demand, tariff policies, inventories, imports, and emerging market events.

After a March frenzy, are prices nearing a peak in April? Some of you have suggested that they are. Others think it's too early to make any such call.