Category: Region

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.

Transportation equipment led the increase, rising 1.5% to $98.3 billion.

After a March frenzy, are prices nearing a peak in April? Some of you have suggested that they are. Others think it's too early to make any such call.

SMU's steel price indices moved in differing directions this week but remained largely stable as cautious buyers await clarity on pending steel tariffs and trade cases.

The European Commmission is reducing the amount of tariff-free foreign steel that can enter the EU.

People remain concerned about inflation, trade policies, and tariffs.

The future of U.S. Steel remains unclear, but the proxy fight for control of the company is heating up. Shareholders will cast their votes on the company's future at the annual meeting in May.

The export situation from the US East Coast was interrupted last week after a political event in Turkey.

On February 10, President Trump announced a massive restructuring of tariffs on steel and aluminum. Those changes took effect on March 12, and they will impact US manufacturing. What will the impact be? Bye-bye exclusions Perhaps the most important change, which hits imports from all countries, is the loss of a product exclusion process to […]

SMU’s Buyers’ Sentiment Indices showed mixed movements this week but remain strong, reflecting continued confidence among steel buyers.

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

Are President Trump's tariff policies helping? Steel buyers offer their opinions on the impact of Trump's tariffs.

Over the past couple of weeks, Midwest HRC futures have been drifting lower on light volume. This begs the question if the rally has run out of steam, or is it catching its breath after ripping roughly $150 in less than two weeks? The April CME Midwest HRC future made an intraday high at $976 […]

After a multi-week increase, buyers responding to our market survey this week reported that lead times are stabilizing or marginally declining for each of the sheet and plate products we track.

Single-family starts last month hit a rate of 1.10 million, a month-over-month increase of 11.4%, census data shows.

The majority of the steel buyers responding to our latest market survey continue to report that domestic mills remain firm on pricing, showing little willingness to talk price on new spot orders this week.

The US scrap market is in for another unpredictable ride going into April. Questionable scrap flows, extended winter weather, and implications of tariffs on steel and scrap continue to have an impact.

The European Commission unveiled A European Steel and Metals Action Plan aimed at safeguarding the European Union’s steel and base metals production.

The ABI is a leading indicator for near-term nonresidential construction activity and projects business conditions ~9-12 months down the road (the typical lead time between architecture billings and construction spending).