Steel Market Update is pleased to share the following Premium content with Executive members. For information on how to upgrade to a Premium-level subscription, email Info@SteelMarketUpdate.com. By CRU Principal Economist Alex Tuckett and Chief Economist Jumana Saleheen, from CRU’s Global Economic Outlook As the curtain falls on 2020, this overview looks back on the year […]
By CRU Analyst Sam Grant It is now clear that Joe Biden will become the new president of the United States in January 2021, yet he will need control of the Senate to implement his economic policy agenda. As a result, the contest for two Senate seats in Georgia on Jan. 5 will be crucial. […]
Hot rolled steel prices have not yet hit $1,000 a ton, but they are not far behind. Buyers tell Steel Market Update they are seeing offers as high as $1,020 per ton, but no takers so far. SMU puts the average HR price at around $950 per ton, up substantially over last week as the […]
Nucor’s Plate Group notified customers of another increase in base prices on its plate products Monday, marking the fourth such announcement since late September. Nucor no longer quotes delivered prices, but rather base prices ex works the mill. Effective immediately Nucor’s EXW plate pricing is as follows: • As-rolled discrete/CTL grade A36 Base 3/8”-2”, $40.00/cwt […]
U.S. raw steel production rose 4.2 percent in October to 6,861,000 net tons, as reported by the American Iron and Steel Institute. AISI’s monthly raw steel production estimates are different than the weekly estimates SMU reports each Tuesday; the monthly estimates are based on over 75 percent of the domestic mills reporting versus only 50 […]
Weekly raw steel production by U.S. mills totaled 1,567,000 net tons in the week ending Dec. 12, down slightly from 1,579,000 week on week. The operating rate was 70.9 percent, down 0.8 percent from 71.4 percent the week prior, based on the American iron and Steel Institute’s calculations, which include idled capacity. Actually, despite the […]
How much higher can steel prices go? It’s impossible to know, but given the current lead times, level of demand and the support higher prices are getting from distribution, and it appears prices may have some more upside. Steel Market Update estimated the average HRC price this past week at $865 per ton, with reports […]
Commerce released final steel import data this week showing October imports totaling 1.51 million net tons, up 20 percent over the month prior. Although imports increased for the month, recall that September imports had fallen to an 11-year low or 1.26 million tons. November import licenses are currently at the 1.40 million ton level, but […]
We will welcome Spencer Johnson of StoneX next week as the guest speaker for our SMU Community Chat. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 16, at 11 a.m. ET. The webinar is free to anyone who is interested in the flat rolled (and plate) steel markets, as well as those interested in the […]
Flat rolled and plate steel prices continue to be quite fluid based on the analysis of the data from Steel Market Update’s survey of the market this week, as well as individual channel checks with both buyers and sellers. By “fluid,” we mean we are capturing variances in prices over a short period of time. […]
On Monday, Dec. 7, both NLMK and California Steel Industries notified customers of an upward revision to their galvanized steel coating extras. A letter from CSI stated, “Due to changing zinc costs, our Galvanized Coating Extras have been revised. These changes will be effective January 2021.” NLMK and CSI are the first mills to revise […]
Iron ore surged in early-December as Vale’s lowered guidance fueled concerns about iron ore availability going into 2021. Short-term market tightness also contributed to the rise as Chinese demand remained strong, while seaborne supply has continued to struggle. On Tuesday, Dec. 8, CRU assessed the 62% Fe fines price at $147.0 /dmt, an increase of $15.5 /dmt […]
By CRU Principal Analyst Josh Spoores, from CRU’s Steel Sheet Products Monitor U.S. Steel announced the full buyout of Big River Steel this week, while Cleveland-Cliffs closed on its acquisition of ArcelorMittal’s U.S. assets. In any other week, these headlines would drive the news flow for steel buyers and sellers. However, news this week remains […]
By CRU Senior Analyst Ryan McKinley, from CRU’s Steel Metallics Monitor The CRU metallics price indicator (CRUmpi) rose by 20.2% m/m in December to 275.2. This large increase was driven by a rapid acceleration in global finished steel pricing. Even with this large m/m increase for December, we again expect metallics prices to rise in […]
By CRU Senior Analyst Erik Hedborg from CRU’s Steelmaking Raw Materials Monitor The iron ore price rally has continued in the past week as the market tightness worsened, with continued strong demand while seaborne supply has taken a major hit following the halting of operations at Australia’s two largest iron ore ports due to bad weather. […]
Canada’s Algoma Steel notified customers on Monday, Dec. 7, that, effective immediately, prices on spot orders for hot rolled and cold rolled sheet products will be increased by U.S. $60 per ton. Algoma reserves the right to review and requote any unconfirmed orders. Published extras will also be applicable with new orders. Algoma’s last price […]
Weekly raw steel production by U.S. mills totaled 1,579,000 net tons in the week ending Dec. 5. As expected, production increased by 1.2 percent after edging off slightly the week prior due to the Thanksgiving holiday break. The operating rate as a result rose to 71.4 percent, up from 70.6 percent the prior week. Even though present […]
Panelists in a webinar presented by the Alliance for American Manufacturing on Wednesday said an infrastructure bill and sensible trade policy should be top priorities for the new administration. Entitled “How Can President-Elect Joe Biden Build Back Better,” panel members discussed what the Biden administration will need to do to rebuild the economy. Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) […]
SSAB Americas notified customers Wednesday that it is increasing transaction prices by $40 per ton on non-contract orders of its plate products “to maintain fair market value for its products.” The increase applies to As-Rolled Mill Plate, Cut-To-Length Plate >72”, Hot Rolled Coils >72”, Normalized Plate and Quenched & Tempered Plate shipped via preferred freight […]
Steel Market Update’s check of the market this week shows another jump for both flat rolled and plate, taking the benchmark price for hot rolled steel to an average of $805 per ton. Sources commonly reported paying as much as $840 to secure hot rolled in a market where availability is becoming a critical issue. […]
Weekly raw steel production by U.S. mills totaled 1,561,000 net tons in the week ending Nov. 28, while the average operating rate was 70.6 percent. Production declined by 1.3 percent from the week prior, likely due to the holiday break. Present capacity utilization represents a 14.4 percent decrease from the same period last year when […]
Preliminary census data shows October imports totaling 1.50 million net tons, up 19 percent over the 11-year low seen in September. For comparison, the lowest monthly import level in the past two decades occured in June 2009 at 862,000 tons. Due to large month-to-month swings in semifinished imports, the chart below shows total monthly imports on […]
Flat rolled steel prices just keep ratcheting up as supplies remain extremely tight, with lead times continuing to extend and sources warning of impending shortages of some products (see related articles in this issue). Steel Market Update’s check of the market this week moves the benchmark price for hot rolled up to $770 per ton, […]
Three out of four respondents to Steel Market Update’s market trends questionnaire this week said they expect to see shortages and possible allocation of steel in the next few months. Buyers report that deliveries from all the mills are routinely 2-4 weeks late. Service centers are getting inquiries from other service centers, even competitors, who […]
Weekly raw steel production by U.S. mills totaled 1,582,000 net tons in the week ending Nov. 21. The operating rate was a fraction higher than the prior week at 71.5 percent. Despite the steady increase in production through much of 2020, the latest week’s output remains 13.2 percent behind the same week last year when the […]
Nucor Tubular Products announced Nov. 20 that it has increased pricing on all new orders for HSS, pipe, mechanical and piling products by $75 per ton as a result of rising raw material costs, strong demand and volatility of transportation costs. All orders booked prior to this announcement will be price protected for shipments through […]
Nucor Tubular Products notified customers on Friday, Dec. 4, that it has increased pricing on all new orders for HSS, pipe, mechanical and piling products by a minimum of $100 per ton as a result of rising raw material costs, strong demand and volatility of transportation costs. All orders booked prior to this announcement are […]
Plate prices have finally gained some traction, seeing a notable jump this past week to an average of $720 per ton, according to Steel Market Update’s latest check of the market. Nucor and SSAB Americas announced plate increases this week in hopes of maintaining that upward momentum. Flat rolled prices continued their relentless climb, with […]
California Steel Industries notified customers on Monday that its February order book is now open and it is increasing transaction prices on its flat rolled products. CSI increased pricing on spot orders of hot rolled and P&O by $50 per ton, and on orders for cold rolled and galvanized by $70 per ton, effective immediately. […]
Steel plate is likely to get more expensive, and not just because of the usual price increases. SSAB Americas informed customers on Monday that it has increased transaction prices by a minimum of $50 per ton effective on all new non-contract orders of As-Rolled Mill Plate, Cut-To-Length Plate >72”, Hot Rolled Coils >72”, Normalized Plate […]