Earlier this month the U.S. Department of Commerce released Final Census Data for the month of June. We found foreign steel imports were at the lowest level seen since 2012 at just under 2.5 million net tons. Finished steel imports totaled 1,886,767 net tons with all but coated steels seeing reductions. When looking at the […]
U.S. raw steel production remained above the 1.8 million ton mark for the third week in a row, reports the American Iron and Steel Institute in Washington. Raw steel output for the week ending Aug. 4 totaled 1,828,000 net tons, a 4.3 percent increase from the same period last year, but down 0.4 percent from […]
The following calculation is used by Steel Market Update to identify the theoretical spread between foreign hot rolled steel import prices (delivered to USA ports) and domestic hot rolled coil prices (FOB domestic mills). We want our readers to be aware that this is only a “theoretical” calculation as freight costs, trader margin and other […]
The following article on the hot rolled coil (HRC) futures market was written by David Feldstein. As the Flack Global Metals Director of Risk Management, Dave is an active participant in the hot rolled futures market, and we believe he provides insightful commentary and trading ideas to our readers. Besides writing futures articles for Steel […]
Boosted by the Trump tariffs, the high price of steel in the U.S. tends to mask other issues. Notably, strained credit limits. While mills report record profits, some of their customers report cash flow issues that threaten their very viability. Steel Market Update canvassed the market this week and gathered the following observations from steel […]
A pretty quiet week as buyers and sellers sneak away for their summer vacations. Not much has changed. We saw a few of the flat rolled items as down $5 to $10 per ton and one as unchanged compared to one week ago. Plate prices were up as mills start to take October orders. Here […]
Reports of demand easing a bit in some markets and declining scrap prices in August hint at a steel market that may be in transition. But steel prices remained largely unchanged from last week based on Steel Market Update’s latest data. Here is how we see prices this week: Hot Rolled Coil: SMU price range […]
Iron ore prices have jumped from about $62 to $66 per ton in the past month, but the change is only temporary, said CRU senior analyst Erik Hedborg. “Ore prices are slightly higher in July, but we expect them to continue to fall for the rest of the year.” Hedborg attributes the July bump to […]
U.S. raw steel production topped the 1.8 million ton mark for the second week in a row and mill utilization, at 78.3 percent, almost equaled this year’s peak of 78.7 percent achieved in March, reports the American Iron and Steel Institute in Washington. Raw steel output for the week ending July 28 totaled 1,836,000 net […]
Gaurav Chhibbar is a partner at Metal Edge Partners, a firm engaged in Risk Management and Strategic Advisory. In this new role, he and his firm design and execute risk management strategy for clients along with providing process and analytical support. In Gaurav’s previous role, he was a Trader at Cargill spending time in Metal […]
Gaurav Chhibbar is a partner at Metal Edge Partners, a firm engaged in Risk Management and Strategic Advisory. In this new role, he and his firm design and execute risk management strategy for clients along with providing process and analytical support. In Gaurav’s previous role, he was a trader at Cargill spending time in metal […]
Imports of foreign steel remain surprisingly resilient despite the 25 percent tariff imposed by the Trump administration. Imports saw a decline in June, but appear to be rebounding in July. Imports of foreign steel declined by about 450,000 tons in June or 15.3 percent from the previous month, according to preliminary Census data released by […]
Many steel buyers, and investors in steel futures, are betting that steel prices will follow the typical seasonal pattern and decline in the last few months of the year, even with the Trump tariffs boosting the market. While that may prove true for flat roll, it will most likely not be the case for steel […]
Steel Market Update’s latest look at commodity prices shows pig iron up, iron ore and zinc down, and coking coal and scrap stable in recent trading. Table 1 summarizes the current prices of the five materials considered in this report and the year-over-year change. Iron Ore The price of 62% fines delivered North China was […]
Trading in steel futures shows many companies betting that prices will decline as the year-end approaches, following the normal seasonal pattern. But current market conditions, under the influence of unprecedented government trade action, are anything but normal, leaving steel executives deeply divided over what to expect. Steel Market Update canvassed the market this week, asking […]
The ferrous scrap market is showing small signs of weakness looking ahead to August, report Steel Market Update sources, who say prices on obsolete grades such as shredded and heavy melt are likely to decline anywhere from $5 to $20 per ton next month, while pricing of busheling and bundles will remain unchanged. Demand for […]
Scrap is trading lower in August. Steel Market Update sources in the ferrous scrap market report that the price of obsolete grades has declined by about $20 per ton and prime by $10 per ton. Weakness in foreign markets has reduced scrap exports, increasing the domestic supply. “Looking forward, I don’t expect prices to really […]
As of the first week of September, with the market still unsettled, ferrous scrap was expected to trend down for the month by another $20 per ton for obsolete grades and perhaps that much for prime, report Steel Market Update sources. On Friday afternoon, we did hear that prices settled in some of the markets […]
Following on declines in August and September, ferrous scrap prices in October are settling at an increase of $20 per ton for prime grades and $10 per ton for obsolete grades, according to Steel Market Update sources. A dealer in the Northeast reports that the Detroit market has bought Busheling at $390/GT, up $20; Shredded […]
U.S. raw steel production last week topped the 1.8 million ton mark for the first time since March, reports the American Iron and Steel Institute in Washington. Raw steel output for the week ending July 21 totaled 1,815,000 net tons, a 4.7 percent increase from the same period last year and up 1.8 percent from […]
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. announced on Monday that the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware reaffirmed the company’s 2017 acquisition of land located in Nashwauk, MN. The ruling resolved the land dispute in favor of Cliffs and Glacier Park Iron Ore Properties LLC (“GPIOP”). Cliffs hopes to develop a financially stable plan for the site […]
The following calculation is used by Steel Market Update to identify the theoretical spread between foreign hot rolled steel import prices (delivered to USA ports) and domestic hot rolled coil prices (FOB domestic mills). We want our readers to be aware that this is only a “theoretical” calculation as freight costs, trader margin and other […]
Cleveland Cliffs reported consolidated revenues of $714 million for the second quarter of 2018. Revenues jumped 52 percent from first quarter revenue of $471 million. Net income for the quarter was $165 million, which included a $64 million loss from discontinued operations, primarily associated with the sale of the company’s Asia Pacific Iron Ore assets. Adjusted […]
Imports of foreign steel continue at a brisk pace, despite the Section 232 tariffs placed on steel imports from every country in the world except Australia (no quota), South Korea (with quota), Brazil (with quota) and Argentina (with quota). Since the Section 232 tariffs began at the beginning of May, and most foreign mill lead […]
Zinc prices were trading at $1.18 per pound this afternoon. Earlier this week, the metal traded as low as $1.13 per pound, but has since rallied off those one-year lows. Even so, the $1.18 per pound level is lower than at any point over the past 12 months (see graphic below). Does SMU expect galvanized […]
The following article on the hot rolled coil (HRC) steel and financial futures markets was written by Jack Marshall of Crunch Risk LLC. Here is how Jack saw trading over the past week: Steel HR futures volumes rose sharply this week as decent volumes were traded in all months from Aug’18 through Jun’19. Over 72,000 […]
We saw either sideways or modest gains in flat rolled steel pricing this week. Lead times continue to be extended by historical standards and, of course, the 25 percent tariff on most of the foreign steel coming into the United States continues and it does not appear it will be withdrawn at any time soon. […]
The market has been relatively quiet this past week with only minor adjustments to the flat rolled indices. Steel Market Update is hearing steel buyers’ concerns about possible price declines. At the same time, there are others who are positive that prices will remain within $50 per ton of today’s levels through the end of […]
How sustainable are the high steel prices in the United States? Steel Market Update sources point to a number of risk factors that buyers should consider. One service center general manager told us flat rolled and plate prices could only be threatened by an increase in imports. “Sharp price declines are caused by sharp increases […]
Is buying foreign steel today a big opportunity, in light of the wide spread between foreign and domestic pricing, or a big risk, in light of the tenuous trade situation in Washington? Steel Market Update canvassed the market and received widely varying views. For some, placing foreign orders is “a no-brainer.” For others, concerned about […]