Category: Region

For trading partners, the tariffs will reduce demand for exports and depress growth. Over the coming days, trade partners will almost certainly announce retaliation, which will hit US exports.

Respondents to the SMU Survey weigh in on the steel landscape.

Tariffs are taxes that the government collects. Funds are disbursed by acts of Congress. If domestic companies, including manufacturers, are to benefit from “protective” tariffs, they must raise their prices as well. Maybe not by the entire amount of the tariffs, but by some. Inflation will come.

The constant flow of information we all receive can be a little overwhelming, but SMU is here to help with a snapshot of the week.

After last year’s historic turnout, the buzz around SMU’s Steel Summit 2025 is picking up. So, it’s no surprise room blocks are going quick, and I mean FAST. Get ready for another blockbuster event! This year’s meeting of the North American flat-rolled steel industry is shaping up to be another record-setting gathering with a timely […]

Supply chains are working through what the tariffs mean for them

The number of active oil and gas drill rigs declined this week in both the US and Canada, according to the latest data from Baker Hughes. US rig counts remain just above multi-year lows, while Canadian activity continues its seasonal slowdown.

The US Commerce Department on Friday released preliminary anti-dumping margins in a trade case targeted imports of coated flat-rolled steel from 10 countries. Certain countries and mills were hammered while others were largely spared. Brazilian steelmaker CSN, for example, received a preliminary rate of 137.76%. Some Turkish mills – including Boreclik and ArcelorMittal Celik Ticaret – received no dumping margin at all.

Market dynamics are shifting rapidly, with futures pricing diverging from physical fundamentals, creating a complex landscape for steel traders.

Canada imposes auto tariffs, while automaker Stellantis temporarily idles some plants.

The Commerce Department has made a preliminary determination that ‘critical circumstances’ exist for certain imports of corrosion-resistant (CORE) flat-rolled steel from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Commerce decided that critical circumstances did not apply to CORE from South Africa. The department also found that critical circumstances did not apply to CORE from UAE producers Al-Ghurair Iron & Steel LLC and United Iron & Steel Company LLC.

If you import aluminum products, here’s where things stand after President Trump's "Liberation Day."

Announcing tariffs is easy. Implementing them at the border? That’s a whole different ball game.

Buyers responding to our latest market survey reported that sheet lead times continue to gradually decline from recent highs. Meanwhile, plate lead times increased to levels last seen one year ago.

Four out of every five steel buyers who responded to our latest market survey say domestic mills are unwilling to negotiate on new order spot pricing. Mills have shown little flexibility on pricing for nearly two months.

President Trump’s promised “Liberation Day” has arrived, with a 10% minimum tariff on imports. But there are some very important exceptions: The United States’ USMCA partners, Canada and Mexico, are excluded from the reciprocal tariffs for now. In addition, steel, aluminum, as well as autos and auto parts are excluded from the reciprocal tariffs. That’s […]

Sheet and plate prices were mixed on Tuesday as the market took a wait-and-see approach to the Trump administration’s “Liberation Day” tariffs.

US manufacturing activity slowed in March after two straight months of expansion, according to supply executives contributing to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM)’s latest report.

The Chicago Business Barometer increased for the third-consecutive month in March. Despite this, it still reflects contracting business conditions, as it has since December 2023.

I’m not sure what I can write today that won’t be old news after April 2. The Trump administration has dubbed Wednesday “Liberation Day.” Since it’s mostly about tariffs, let’s just call it “Tariff Day.” Or maybe we should call it “Tariff Week” – since tariffs typically dominate the news cycle in the first week […]

Trump's new auto tariffs will apply to passenger vehicles (including sedans, sport utility vehicles, crossover utility vehicles, minivans, and cargo vans), light trucks, and certain automobile parts (including engines and engine parts, transmissions and powertrain parts, and electrical components).

Anticipation leading up to SMU’s Steel Summit 2025 is already heating up after last year’s record-setting attendance!

The constant flow of information we all receive can be a little overwhelming, but SMU is here to help with a snapshot of the week.

Victor Cairo, head of Mexico’s steel sector body Canacero and CEO of ArcelorMittal Mexico, says he is confident negotiations between the Mexican and US governments planned for April 2 will lead to the creation of a regional block to substitute imports, especially from Asia.

US rig counts remain slightly above multi-year lows, while Canadian activity is slowing following a seasonal peak.

Another eventful week in the physical and financial steel markets is coming to a close, but with a markedly different tone than the last update at the end of February.

Upon the request of US chassis manufacturers, the Commerce Department this week initiated investigations into the alleged dumping and subsidization of chassis imported from Mexico, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The threat of tariffs over the past two months has been a springboard for US prices. But the Section 232 reinstatement on March 13 narrowed the domestic premium over imports on a landed basis.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a proclamation that will impose a 25% tariff on most imported passenger vehicles.

This week, SMU polled steel buyers on an array of topics, including market prices, demand, tariff policies, inventories, imports, and emerging market events.