Category: Region

Steel fabricators and distributors SPS Companies and State Steel will be merging their service center businesses under the SPS Companies family of firms.

Some world-changing events happen in an instant. Others take many twists and turns. The outcome remains unknowable at every phase. That is, until you finally arrive at the end of the roller coaster, the safety bar lifts up, and you stagger off the ride. It appears such is the case with Japan’s Nippon’s Steel Corp.’s (NSC’s) proposed $14.9-billion buy of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel. And the ride ain't over yet.

Steel prices didn't start the new year with a bang - but they didn't bust, either, according to SMU's first survey of 2025. On the sheet side, market participants generally predicted that prices should move higher this year on the coated trade petition and the potential for tariffs under President-elect Trump. But most buyer sources weren’t eager to load up given the uncertain timing and scope of the potential tariffs. They also cited increasing domestic capacity and modest demand.

A bleak outlook for steel demand has undermined market confidence, contributing to the drop in prices.

The Trump administration may be considering alternative tariff plans, but Trump said the report is "Fake News."

I’m not sure what to say about President Biden’s blocking Nippon Steel’s deal for U.S. Steel that hasn’t already been said. I think it’s fair to say, as U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt did, that this was ultimately all about politics and had very little to do with national security. SMU has tried to remain […]

Hot-rolled (HR) coil prices were flat in the US this week, while tags in offshore markets were mostly down.

Alkar Steel and Processing supplies hot- and cold-rolled steel, high carbon spring steel, high strength-low alloy steel, coated and stainless steel products throughout the Midwest.

The number of active oil and gas rigs operating in the US held steady this week for the fifth consecutive week, while Canadian activity declined further, according to the latest figures released from Baker Hughes.

“U.S. manufacturing activity contracted again in December, but at a slower rate compared to November,” according to Timothy Fiore, chair of the ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee.

We never eat chicken on New Year’s Day. My Irish-Catholic grandmother thought it was bad luck – because chickens scratch backward. And one should start the year looking forward. But it’s hard to avoid the fact that we’re carrying a lot 2024 issues (and even 2023 ones) forward into 2025. That’s not all bad. We’re starting 2025 with SMU’s hot-rolled coil price at $675/per short ton (st). That’s $370/st lower than $1045/st at the outset of 2023, according to our interactive pricing tool. I think we can safely say that a decline of that magnitude won’t happen in 2025.

Construction spending inched higher in November for a second straight month.

The December reading of 36.9 declined 3.3 points from the previous month to the lowest reading since May 2024.

Worthington Steel's CEO feels optimistic as the company heads into its second year as a standalone company.

The number of oil and gas rigs operating in the US remained unchanged this week for the second consecutive week, while Canadian activity declined, according to the latest data released from Baker Hughes.

Recovery continues but geopolitical risks remain for 2025

A trustee has formally taken over AHMSA and begun the liquidation process of the bankrupt Mexican steelmaker.

Nippon Steel and a Japanese trading company have entered an agreement to buy a 49% interest in a Champion Iron ore project in Canada.

Both of our Sentiment Indices remain in positive territory and indicate that steel buyers are optimistic about the success of their businesses.

In the last article written for SMU, we looked at the rallies that followed both the 2016 and 2022 presidential elections, as well as the moves in the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index.

Steel mill production times have seen very little change since September, according to buyers participating in our latest market survey.

“Manufacturers are optimistic,” said Timothy R. Fiore, chair of ISM’s Manufacturing Business Survey Committee.

Steel buyers of sheet and plate products say mills are still willing to bend on spot pricing this week, though not quite as much as they were two weeks prior, according to our most recent survey data.

Depressed demand and weak prices drove Worthington Steel’s second fiscal quarter results to a sequential decline.

“New commodity-specific tariffs, mainly on steel and aluminum products, could widen price differentials and divert trade flows,” the credit agency forewarned.

The price premium between stateside hot band and landed imports widened slightly this week.

We have seen very little change in sheet and plate prices across the past month.

Following a substantial recovery in November, business activity in New York state’s manufacturing sector held steady in December, according to the latest Empire State Manufacturing Survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

In 2024, volatility with a capital “V” has been the rule. That will remain high heading into 2025.

The world has had a few shocks recently. The CEO of a major health insurance company was gunned down in Manhattan. The 50-year Assad dynasty in Syria was pushed out less than two weeks after rebels started an offensive. And President-elect Trump is promising tariffs on everything a month before he takes office. But one shock has been taking place for a lot longer than the last few weeks. The 70-year consensus on trade hasn’t just been challenged. It’s been repudiated.