Category: Raw Materials

The export market from the US and Canada has held firm, while slightly strengthening ahead of the domestic buying for February shipment.

All but one of the steelmaking raw materials we track increased in price over the last month

The pig iron market has entered an upward phase now that ferrous scrap in both Europe and North America has also been increasing in price.

The US scrap market has come under pressure due to the extremely debilitating winter weather across the eastern half of the country.

Speculation has already begun on what February has in store for the US scrap market after it rose $20-30 per gross ton (gt) in January,

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has provided Warrior Met Coal official permits for expanding its Tuscaloosa, Ala.-based mining projects.  

The export markets in the Mediterranean Basin have shown firmness over the last month and have started to build in the first half of January.

The price spread between domestic hot-rolled coil and prime scrap widened for a fourth consecutive month in January, based on SMU’s most recent pricing data.

Ferrous scrap prices jumped on all the products SMU tracks in January, scrap sources said.

A look at some of the results from SMU's January scrap market survey.

The imported basic pig iron market has shown upward price movement over the last week.

The formation of the domestic scrap market for January shipments is underway and only partially settled as of this article's publication. The main point of contention is the price of #1 busheling and bundles.

There is disagreement over whether prices will increase meaningfully going into the new year. Prices did see a small increase in December, but several sources SMU has contacted have told us they are hearing price rises may be limited compared to past years.   

The export market in the Atlantic Basin has seen significant strengthening during Q4 as 2025 comes to a close. The strength has been mainly driven by Turkish buyers, but Italy has also been a contributor. 

The price of pig iron looks to strengthen as producing nations cite rising ferrous scrap values.

There are few firm predictions about the January scrap market in North America at mid-month except to say it will be stronger. The question is by how much?

The pig iron market in Brazil has moved up since our last report for US-bound cargoes.

US ferrous scrap prices have picked up in December, sources told SMU.

SMU’s December ferrous scrap market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members.

NEMO Industries CEO Daniel Liss has already made waves with his bold plan to bring pig iron production back to US soil. In an SMU Community Chat on Wednesday, he shifted the conversation from inspiration to execution, laying out timelines, financing strategies, and customer demand that could reshape the steel supply chain by the end of the decade.

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

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

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.

A history of DRI production.

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

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

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

The US scrap market is showing some signs of strength in certain regions shortly after the November settlements finalized without detectable resistance.

A Tenaris subsidiary, Steel Recycling Services, has acquired the Beaver Falls, Pa., scrap processing yard of SA Recycling.

The pig iron market is at a standstill since the last sale to the US several weeks ago.