Trade attorney and Steel Market Update contributor Lewis Leibowitz offers the following update on events in Washington: There are several currents surrounding the steel tariffs this holiday season. As we enjoy the end of this year, I am looking at the first few months of 2019 and how the steel trade situation could evolve. • […]
Trade attorney and Steel Market Update contributor Lewis Leibowitz offers the following update on events in Washington: Yesterday in New York, an important argument took place in the Court of International Trade. I observed that argument and will give you my impressions. The case was brought by the American Institute for International Steel (AIIS) and […]
Following increases in October and November, ferrous scrap prices for December settled with relatively little change, report Steel Market Update sources. “Pittsburgh and points west went sideways. East of Pittsburgh and to the south, prices went down $10 per ton,” said one dealer. Export buying prices are off by $20 per ton, he added. “Declining […]
Ferrous scrap prices are down sharply in January, settling $30 to $40 per ton lower than December, report Steel Market Update sources. The decline was a surprise to many as scrap prices typically rebound in January following seasonal slowness at the end of the year. CRU Steel Analyst Ryan McKinley noted that this is the […]
Ferrous scrap prices declined by $30-40 per ton in January—a month that typically sees prices rebound. Some scrap experts predict the downtrend may continue. How low prices could go is a source of some disagreement. January scrap settled at the following numbers in various regions, report SMU sources: Midwest/Ohio Valley: Shred – $330-335/GT; HMS – […]
Editor’s note: The following analysis of the U.S. rod and bar market was contributed by CRU Steel Analyst Ryan McKinley. Steel Market Update will periodically expand its coverage of the steel market with long products content from CRU as an added benefit to our members. U.S. mills announced wire rod price increases of $1.50/cwt across […]
The year 2019 is shaping up to be a special year for Steel Market Update and our customers. Steel Market Update is much more than a source of market intelligence and a supplier of spot pricing for the flat rolled and plate steel markets. Over the years, SMU has developed a number of highly successful […]
The year 2019 is shaping up to be a special year for Steel Market Update and our customers. Steel Market Update is much more than a source of market intelligence and a supplier of spot pricing for the flat rolled and plate steel markets. Over the years, SMU has developed a number of highly successful […]
Beaver Steel Services, Inc., Carnegie, Pa., has joined the North American Steel Alliance as its 124th service center member. NASA is a member-owned purchasing cooperative serving the metals distribution industry. Beaver Steel provides flat-rolled carbon steel to manufacturers, fabricators and job shops within a 300-mile radius of Pittsburgh. With a focus on value-added processing, the […]
Construction spending inched lower in October from September levels, but increased from the October 2017 total, according to an analysis of new Census data by the Associated General Contractors of America. However, investment in public infrastructure posted declines from recent peaks, and association officials urged the White House and Congress to act promptly on comprehensive […]
For almost eight years, Steel Market Update has been working in conjunction with the U.S. and Canadian steel mills on a basic steel training workshop for those involved in the flat rolled, plate and long product steel industries. We have trained in excess of 600 individuals ranging from people on their first day on the […]
For almost eight years, Steel Market Update has been working in conjunction with the U.S. and Canadian steel mills on a basic steel training workshop for those involved in the flat rolled, plate and long product steel industries. We have trained in excess of 600 individuals ranging from people on their first day on the […]
After rising in October and November, ferrous scrap prices are expected to move sideways in December with the possibility of a small $10 per ton increase for some grades. But weakness overseas complicates predictions longer term, say Steel Market Update sources. “December is generally a month when scrap prices rise,” said CRU North America Steel […]
Labor costs and a shortage of skilled workers may result in fewer construction jobs next year, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. Forty-four states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between October 2017 and October 2018, while 36 states and D.C. added construction jobs between September and October, according to an […]
The North American Steel Alliance, the service center industry’s top buying co-op, has recruited two new members: Texas Iron & Metal and Beaver Steel Services, bringing NASA’s total membership to 124 companies. Texas Iron & Metal in Houston is a family owned company that offers a selection of steel and pipe products to the agriculture, […]
On Wednesday, Nov. 28, Steel Market Update along with CRU will conduct our first SMU-focused webinar. This webinar is available to all current member companies as well as our potential new customers. I will be leading the discussion on how SMU is seeing the current market situation, and a mid-term forecast will be provided by […]
Steady demand in the HVAC sector is offsetting concerns about declining steel prices, leaving members of the Heating, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International hopeful about their prospects in 2019, reported HARDI members during the trade group’s monthly conference call on Tuesday. The distributors of galvanized steel products have seen prices slide by about $5/cwt since […]
This evening’s price and price momentum discussion comes after a number of conversations held with flat rolled steel service center CEO’s and a trading company executive on Thursday and Friday of last week. The words “mud” and “murky” were prominent as the steel distributors try to figure out where things are headed as we enter […]
Steel service centers are struggling to peg the spot end user markets and what price levels they need to be offering to their spot flat rolled customers, based on the results obtained from last week’s flat rolled and plate steel market trends analysis performed by Steel Market Update. Steel Market Update follows the service center […]
Lead times for Galvalume and plate products shortened up a bit in the past two weeks, but otherwise lead times for flat rolled products have seen little change in October or November, despite the price hike announcements by the major mills. Lead times for steel delivery are a measure of demand at the mill level—the […]
By CRU Steel Analyst Ryan McKinley CMC’s expanded footprint across the United States, following its acquisition of Gerdau’s assets, raises the probability that a rebar price increase is on the horizon. That said, price increases may be short-lived as Nucor works to bring two of its newest micro mill projects online in 2019. Rebar prices […]
ArcelorMittal expects no disruption in service as a result of a minor fire at its Indiana Harbor 4 Steel Producing (4SP) operation on Monday afternoon. One employee was treated for minor burns following a fire that resulted when slag was dumped onto an area containing water. “Indiana Harbor 4SP remains in production, and we do […]
Ferrous scrap prices have risen for the second month in a row as November buys settled early at up $10 for prime grades and up $20 for obsoletes, report Steel Market Update sources. “Dealers and mills both wanted to wrap things up given that November is a shorter shipping month and they need to get […]
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. announced the completed acquisition of toll processor and transportation/logistics company All Metals Holdings, LLC. It is the third acquisition for Reliance in 2018. All Metals includes operating subsidiaries All Metals Processing & Logistics, Inc., and All Metals Transportation and Logistics, Inc. AMPL, headquartered in Spartanburg, S.C., with an additional facility […]
United Steelworkers and ArcelorMittal have reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year labor contract after months of negotiating. USW International President Leo Gerard and USW District 1 Director David McCall praised the union’s hard work, dedication and solidarity during the bargaining period. “Through their hard work and sacrifices to improve the productivity and efficiency […]
Construction spending hit a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.329 trillion and grew 5.5 percent for nine months of 2018, with continued year-to-date gains for major public and private categories, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that while demand for construction should remain […]
Robust demand in the construction industry is helping to elevate employment levels in the sector. Construction employment increased in 278 out of 358 metro areas between September 2017 and September 2018, declined in 42 and was unchanged in 38, according to a new analysis of federal employment data by the Associated General Contractors of America. […]
Flat rolled steel prices have stalled, despite the increase announcements out of many of the domestic steel mills. Plate steel spot prices, on the other hand, continue to remain firm in December with an expectation of a $40 price increase being collected in January. Steel Market Update canvassed the flat rolled and plate steel buyers […]
MSC Smart Steel® from Material Sciences Corporation (MSC) is one of 35 finalists for the 2019 Automotive News PACE Awards. The prestigious PACE program honors automotive suppliers for advanced levels of technical achievement, superior innovation and business excellence. “MSC Smart Steel is a new multilayer steel laminate engineered as a direct substitute for low carbon […]
Olympic Steel Inc. announced the promotion of Andrew Wolfort to the position of Regional Vice President. Wolfort joined Olympic Steel in 2007 as an Inside Sales Representative for the company’s Chicago location and was then promoted to Outside Sales Representative. In 2010, he relocated to Olympic Steel’s Bettendorf, Iowa, facility where he was promoted to […]