Category: Manufacturers/End Users

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. has reportedly signed "unusually long" fixed-price supply agreements with multiple US automakers.

“We are committed to bring the hot-end back to full operation. The goal is to bring back to work all employees of the currently idled units as soon as we can," Chairman, President, and CEO Lourenco Goncalves said in a letter to colleagues on Wednesday.

North American auto assemblies declined in June, down 10.6% vs. May. And, according to GlobalData, assemblies were 3.1% down year on year (y/y).

The Architecture Billings Index (ABI), a leading indicator for non-residential construction activity, declined for an eighth straight month in June.

Business activity in New York state recovered slightly in July, with the Empire State Manufacturing Index seeing its first positive reading in four months.

The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) increased again in June, setting a record reading. The surprise result follows three months of little to no growth, according to the latest data released by Dodge Construction Network. Both institutional and commercial projects accelerated in June, further improving the nonresidential construction market. The May DMI rose to 225.1, a […]

US manufacturing activity slowed for a fourth straight month in June. That's a sharp shift after trending up for most of Q1.

GE Appliances announces $490-million reshoring project in Kentucky.

“Contractors say that they're still busy, but their order books have gotten a lot softer or a lot more uncertain,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist for The Associated General Contractors of America.

“Economically, the business case for products made in the us has become a lot more attractive," the CEO told Fox Business.

GM looks to invest $4 billion in its US operations.

New light vehicle sales slumped in May to 15.6 million as the buying rush faded from consumers signing ahead tariff increases.

The budget proposal has big implications for steel and manufacturing.

CRU Group revised down its forecast for North American auto production by about 800,000 to 14.7 million this year.

Ford Motor Co. started a planned outage early at its Chicago assembly plant due to a supply chain issue.

The recently announced US tariffs on vehicles and key components from all markets are expected to significantly disrupt global production.

Mercedes-Benz is planning to move production of a “core segment vehicle” to Tuscaloosa, Ala., by 2027.

It's just the latest change for US trade policy

After a hard drop in December — the worst since July 2021 — assembly numbers have climbed three months in a row. Sentiment remains tempered, though.

The company cited uncertainty about freight rates and demand, regulatory changes and the impact of tariffs.

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

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).

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.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a proclamation that will impose a 25% tariff on most imported passenger vehicles.

South Korea’s Hyundai has formally announced a nearly $6-billion investment to build a steel mill in Louisiana to supply steel for the company’s automotive interests in the southeastern US.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. has introduced a new employee incentive program to promote American-made vehicles, support domestic production, and strengthen US supply chains.

Construction spending edged down slightly in January, slipping for the first time in four months. The US Census Bureau estimated spending at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,196 billion in January, down 0.2% from December’s downward revised rate. The January figure is 3.3% higher than a year ago. January’s result, despite the slight erosion, […]

North American auto assemblies recovered in January, surging 33.4% above December and rebounding from a three-year low. However, according to LMC Automotive data, assemblies were still 0.1% lower year on year (y/y). After slumping in December to the lowest total since July 2021, January’s assemblies returned to typical seasonal levels. Sentiment remains tempered as carmakers […]

US light-vehicle (LV) sales slowed to an unadjusted 1.11 million units in January, a sharp cut of over 25% from December but still 3.8% above year-ago totals, according to US Bureau of Economic Analysis data. On an annualized basis, LV sales were 15.6 million units in January, down from 16.9 million units the month prior […]

One buyer summed up the prevailing sentiment: “Everything is pointing up — pricing, sentiment, order activity. But the real test will come once the immediate reactionary buying subsides. Will there be enough true demand to support these levels through mid-year? That’s the big unknown.”