Category: Features

The US OCTG Manufacturers Association is commending US Customs for intercepting another Thai company's attempt to illegally transship Chinese oil pipe to the US.

SMU’s Mill Order Index (MOI) declined for a third straight month in May, but only marginally.

US steel mills have ramped up raw production since April, with weekly output steadily increasing in nearly every week since.

Not many people in the North American steel market had direct US involvement in another Middle East conflict on their bingo card. Prices weren't expected to shoot higher unless something unexpected happened. That unexpected something has now happened. And there is talk of oil at $100 per barrel. What does that mean for steel?

We’ll have a lot to talk about because construction is at the intersection of so many of today’s hot-button issues. The main question: Will construction thrive or dive in the rest of ’25? (Nothing wrong with a rhyme, even in serious times.)

The document makes clear that Nippon Steel, through Nippon Steel America, will have “100% ownership of [the] common stock.” So if you want to own an interest in U.S. Steel’s future success, you will need to buy shares in Nippon Steel on the Nikkei stock exchange. It certainly will not be in your domestic S&P 500 ETF.

Your highlights on the week in trade developments, price increases, scrap news, and more.

Oil and gas drilling activity declined in the US again this week the US, while Canadian counts improved, according to Baker Hughes.

According to our latest analysis, prices for four of the seven steelmaking raw materials we track declined from May to June. Collectively, these materials declined 3% month over month (m/m) and are down 9% compared to three months ago.

CSPA, USW disappointed in Canadian government's actions on steel.

Now that the USS/Nippon deal has been completed, what's next?

The actions, which includes tariffs, are necessary to protect the Canadian market from global overcapacity. They are also needed because other countries have redirected material to Canada as a result of higher US tariffs, Carney said.

Earlier this week, SMU polled steel buyers on an array of topics, ranging from market prices, demand, and inventories to imports and evolving market events.

Jeremy Flack of Flack Global Metals weighs in on USS, tariffs, and hedging in today's market.

Getting back to the price increases I mentioned at the top of this article, to what extent are they aimed at raising prices and to what extent are they aimed at stopping the bleeding that was happening in the second half of May, before President Trump announced the 50% tariff?

Details of a new tariff-rate quota on US imports of British steel are lacking in the new US-UK trade deal.

The Mexican government shut down two plants and warehouses operated by US-based LAU Industries.

Trade talks are progressing between the US and the market is contemplating the future of Section 232 tariffs.

After climbing to a seven-month high in March, heating and cooling equipment shipments edged lower in April, according to the latest data released by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). Shipments of water heaters, air conditioner/heat pumps, and warm-air furnaces all declined month over month (m/m) but remain strong relative to the past three years.

The Trump administration has expanded the list of derivative steel products covered by the now 50% Section 232 tariff.

Domestic mills continue to produce record volumes of steel, according to AISI's latest figures.

Flat rolled = 57.1 shipping days of supply Plate = 55.7 shipping days of supply Flat rolled US service centers reined in flat roll supply in May, coinciding with declining shipments. At the end of May, service centers carried 57.1 shipping days of supply, according to adjusted SMU data. That’s down slightly from 57.6 shipping […]

We just wrapped another Steel 101 Workshop, where you take what you learned in the classroom into the steel mill.

In short, when tariffs go up, jobs in consuming industries go down. There is conclusive evidence from past actions: safeguard tariffs in 2002 and Section 232 tariffs in 2018. It is happening again in 2025. The Trump administration wants foreign producers (and US retailers) to absorb tariff increases (except in antidumping cases, where foreign absorption of tariffs is illegal).

If you’re feeling a sudden jerk and a case of tariff whiplash coming on, you’re not alone.

More developments with USS-Nippon. A look at whether imports will be needed. The latest prices. And more.

A Nippon executive has hit back regarding the deal for USS following President Trump's talk of a "golden share" on Thursday.

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 […]

SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices moved in opposing directions this week. Our Current Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Index sharply fell to one of the lowest levels recorded in five years, while Future Buyers’ Sentiment marginally improved.

Subdued demand has continued to weigh on steel sheet prices globally.