Category: Product

Major activity in the US scrap export market has occurred, mainly driven by Turkey.

Sources expect the recent spot market price hikes on domestically produced plate products to be accepted by the market.  

Lock Joint Tube has acquired the Tectron mechanical tube product line and associated manufacturing facility in De Pere, Wisc., from Atkore Inc.

The price gap between stateside hot band and landed offshore product has inched closer to parity, now at its lowest level since the summer.

All of SMU’s sheet price indices rose this week, climbing to new multi-month highs. At the same time, our plate index held steady.

A steelmaker in the Southeast has entered the market for shredded, P&S, and HMS at prices of $20/gt over November.

Oregon Steel Mills has joined other producers, announcing a price increase of at least $40 per short ton for steel plate.

Nucor increased its weekly hot-rolled coil spot list price by $5 per short ton (st) on Monday, Dec. 1. This was its sixth increase in as many weeks, moving up $45/st over that span.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced new measures on Wednesday to strengthen the country’s domestic steel industry, which include a tariff on some downstream steel-intensive goods.

US and Canadian rig counts both declined this week, according to the latest Baker Hughes data released on Wednesday, Nov. 26.

SMU’s latest steel buyers market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members.

Steel mill lead times extended this week on all sheet and plate products tracked, according to responses from SMU’s latest market survey.

All five of SMU’s sheet and plate price indices increased this week for the second week in a row, with all products inching up to new multi-month highs. Prices are now up by $30-70/st compared to those seen four weeks ago.

The situation has altered in the Brazilian pig iron market since our last update on Nov. 13. At the time, we reported things were at a standstill for sales to US-based steelmakers.

SSAB Americas aims to increase prices on all its products by at least $40 per short ton (st).

Nucor plans to increase prices for steel plate by $30 per short ton (st). The move coincides with Charlotte, N.C.-based steelmaker opening its plate orderbook for January.

Nucor increased its weekly hot-rolled coil spot list price by $5 per short ton (st) on Monday, Nov. 24. This was its fifth increase in as many weeks.

A history of DRI production.

US and Canadian rig counts both improved this week, according to the latest Baker Hughes data.

Sources say domestic mill lead times and consumer spot prices have increased this week.

In the month since my last column, the tides have started to turn – and as usual it wasn’t the physical market that moved first.

Most steelmaking raw material prices remained stable over the past month. Prices are mixed in comparison to this time last year.

Domestic plate market participants anticipate strong economic growth in the first quarter of 2026, which they say is the perfect reason for spot market price hikes now.  

SMU sits down with Barry Zekelman to talk North American trade and the state of the US and Canadian steel industries.

Architecture firms reported a modest improvement in billings in October, though business conditions remained soft, according to the latest ABI report.

The price gap between stateside hot band and landed offshore product shrank week over week (w/w).

SunCoke Energy Inc. and Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. have agreed to extend their coke supply agreement for another three years.

The SMU Steel Demand Index slackened from late October, remaining below expansion territory, according to SMU's mid-November indicators.

The bulk scrap export market has experienced a great deal of action lately, but that has not resulted in runaway pricing.

SMU’s price indices increased across the board this week, reaching new multi-month highs.