Final Thoughts
Rising prices and stable demand is not a bad way to slide into the ending of 2025.
Category: SMU
Heating and cooling equipment shipments weakened through September
US shipments of heating and cooling equipment fell 7% in September from August to the lowest monthly rate of the year, according to the latest data released by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).
SMU flat-rolled market survey results now available
SMU’s latest steel buyers market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members. After logging in at steelmarketupdate.com, visit the pricing and analysis tab and look under the “survey results” section for “latest survey results.” Past survey results are also available under that selection. If you need help accessing the survey results, or if […]
SMU Survey: Current Sentiment falls, Future Sentiment ticks up
SMU’s Current Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Index slipped this week while Future Sentiment inched up, according to our most recent survey data.
Final Thoughts
Scrap keeps on trucking, shutdown or not.
Low demand amid mill price hikes confounds sheet market participants
US sheet market participants say demand for hot- and cold-rolled coils has not increased, leaving them confused by mill price increases and average lead times.
SMU Survey: Sheet lead times inch higher, plate shrinks
Steel mill lead times extended marginally this week on most sheet products but declined for plate, according to responses from SMU’s latest market survey.
SMU Survey: Buyers say mills less willing to negotiate prices
Just over half of the steel buyers who responded to our market survey this week reported that domestic mills are willing to talk price on new spot orders. Mills have begun to hold a firmer stance on prices over our last two surveys.
Gap between US HR prices and imports widens slightly
The price gap between stateside hot band and landed offshore product has marginally widened week over week.
Miller on Raw Materials: Pig iron market slows down
The pig iron market is at a standstill since the last sale to the US several weeks ago.
HRC vs. prime spread widens again in November
The price spread between HRC and prime scrap has widened for a second month, based on SMU’s most recent pricing data.
Final Thoughts
A history of EAF steelmaking.
SMU Price Ranges: Sheet and plate products inch higher
SMU's sheet and plate steel prices moved higher in unison this week.
November scrap tags settle sideways, sources say
November ferrous scrap prices landed even with October as the market settled, sources told SMU.
Final Thoughts: Strong leaders forge stronger metals' industry success at AMWI
Anyone standing near the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix, Az undoubtedly felt a kinetic charge this week. Professionals from coast-to-coast convened in the posh desert oasis for the Association of Women in the Metals Industry (AMWI) 2025 conference. Amidst the metals crowd were those leading teams and organizations through the heat of the 2025 moment.
SMU Scrap Survey: Sentiment Indices decline
SMU’s Current and Future Sentiment Indices for scrap decreased this month, based on the latest data from our ferrous scrap survey.
Scrap Market Chatter in November
A sampling of SMU scrap survey respondent answers from November.
SMU scrap market survey results now available
SMU’s November ferrous scrap market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members. After logging in at steelmarketupdate.com, visit the pricing and analysis tab and look under the “survey results” section for “ferrous scrap survey” results. Past scrap survey results are also available under that selection. If you need help accessing the survey […]
HR Futures: Market waits with bated breath for next driver
The market has entered into a bit of a quiet recalibration, the kind of pause that feels like a held breath. Prices have stopped falling. Lead times have stretched just enough to create firmer footing. The urgency of downside risk has faded, but maybe (not quite yet) moved on.
Gap between US HR prices and imports narrows
The gap between US hot band prices and imports narrowed slightly. But with the 50% Section 232 tariffs, most imports remain more expensive than domestic material.
US November scrap market trading flat, sources say
The November scrap market in the US is appearing sideways across the board, according to several sources.
Final Thoughts
Could 2026 be the year when tariffs headwinds clear?
SMU Price Ranges: Steel sheet notches another week of modest gains
Most sheet prices inched up again this week following mill efforts to set a floor under tags and to increase them from there.
Final Thoughts
Most steel buyers think that steel prices will continue to rise into the 2026. But they don’t see the kinds of big gains that have characterized past market upturns, according to the results of SMU’s latest steel market survey.
Brazil pig iron market activity picks up
The pig iron market in Brazil saw some activity last week that could present some additional options to producers there, but at lower price levels.
SMU flat-rolled market survey results now available
SMU’s latest steel buyers market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members.
SMU Steel Demand Index improves but remains in contraction
SMU’s Steel Demand Index remains in contraction, according to late October indicators. Though growth faded at a slower pace, it rebounded from one of the lowest readings year-to-date from earlier in the month.
SMU Survey: Steel Buyers' Sentiment Indices increase
SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices both rose this week, with Current Sentiment rebounding 14 points.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes an entire news cycle happens in one week.
SMU Survey: Mills less negotiable on spot prices
Most steel buyers responding to our market survey this week reported that domestic mills are considerably less willing to talk price on sheet and plate products than they were in recent weeks.