Category: Market Data

CRU forecasts a stronger year for steel sheet demand in 2024 than in 2023 as growth continues in Asia and a recent period of contraction in the West ends.

The latest SMU Market Survey results are now available on our website to all Premium members.

Mill lead times for flat-rolled products pushed out this week once again across the board.

Electricity demand worldwide is growing significantly, requiring massive investments in the electric grid to supply increased needs and desire for electricity. A recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) indicates that global demand for electricity will double from 2020 to 2050. In developed economies, the growth rate will be somewhat lower. But it will […]

LME Aluminum Continues To Trade Under Pressure; US Midwest Premium Stays Between 19–19.5¢/lb The LME aluminum 3-month price continued to trade under pressure on the morning of 20 October and was last seen trading at $2,177/t. The US Midwest premium showed no surprise as it continued to sit between 19–19.5 ¢/lb. The UAW strikes are […]

Annual contract negotiations between buyers and mills in the US flat-rolled steel market are picking up pace as both look to lock in volume for the coming year. As these contracts are finalized, we expect that changes in the market will impact how 2024 contracts are ultimately structured. The primary change in the market is […]

Much effort has been made in examining the supply chain of commodities related to electrification: everything from copper to aluminum to critical battery materials such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt. One overlooked material, however, is electrical steel.

US housing starts increased in September despite high-interest rates, according to the latest estimates from the US Census Bureau.

US service center flat-rolled steel inventories declined for a second month as shipping rates picked up in September.

Steel Market Update’s Steel Demand Index remains in contraction territory despite repeated improvements since mid-September, according to our latest survey data.

Specialty steel producer Grupo Simec has permanently closed down its Republic Steel mills in Canton, Ohio, and Lackawanna, in New York state, it has emerged.

Prices for ore-based metallics were mixed month-on-month (MoM) as lower finished steel production weighs on pig iron demand.

The latest SMU 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.” Historical survey results are also available under that selection. If you need help accessing the survey results, […]

This week’s survey showed steel mill lead times extending across all product lines tracked by SMU.

The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) edged up in September, driven by a slight increase in planning despite tighter lending standards, according to the latest Dodge Construction Network (DCN) data.

Because of a series of problems encountered in Australia and the United States, Coronado and Arch have both reduced their coking coal output guidance. They also warned of higher costs. Coronado Global Resources now forecasts production between 16.2 Mt and 16.4 Mt this year, compared with a previous range of 16.8 Mt and 17.2 Mt. […]

US manufacturing activity improved in September, nearing a recovery, but remained in contraction territory, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM).

Steel prices continued to decline last month – a trend we’ve seen repeated since mid-April.

ArcelorMittal said it expects to produce less steel than previously forecast in Brazil. Gerdau has hinted at potential layoffs as imports surge. The Brazil Steel Institute is asking the government to raise import levies to 25% from the existing 9.6%. Meanwhile, Mexico has applied levies to some steel imports.

The latest SMU Market Survey results are now available on our website to all Premium members.

SMU's weekly survey reflects what people in the market are talking about. Lately, a popular topic has been the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike.

SMU's Current and Future Steel Buyers Sentiment Indices both increased this week despite the United Auto Workers (UAW) union strike expansion, based on our most recent survey data.

While lead times for sheet again had mixed movements this week, those for plate collapsed, according to SMU’s most recent market survey.

Ford of Canada union workers represented by Unifor ratified a new, three-year labor agreement on Sunday.

Demand will be the determining factor in what happens to steel sheet prices globally for the remainder of the year, and most risks right now are to the downside. An autoworkers strike has started in the USA and could increase price volatility in the domestic sheet market. The longer and more severe this strike is, […]

The LME aluminum 3-month price was up 0.8% on the morning of Friday Sept. 22. It was last seen trading at $2,238/metric tons, remaining above the $2,200/t mark for most of the past week.

US hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices fell further relative to imported product this week. Domestic hot band remains cheaper than offshore HRC as US tags continue to sink at a sharper rate than those overseas.

August’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) reading from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Deltek showed a moderate decrease.

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, SMU polled steel buyers on a variety of subjects, including steel prices, demand levels, sheet prices abroad, inventory, the UAW strike, and what people are talking about in the market

U.S. Steel and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) plan to test carbon-capture technology at the company’s Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock, Pa.