Category: US

The AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) tumbled in January, as business softened further at architectural firms across the US.

Hot rolled and galvanized lead times are about half a week longer than they were three months ago, while production times for cold rolled, Galvalume, and plate products are one to two weeks longer.

Ternium SA closed 2025 under pressure from lower steel prices and softer shipments. But the Latin American steelmaker expects both volumes and margins to improve early in 2026 as Mexico’s trade defenses tighten and US tariff uncertainty begins to settle.

US ferrous scrap prices continued to rise in February, scrap sources told SMU.

Since late 2025, mills have begun to hold a firmer stance on prices, tightening their grip at the start of this year and holding on since

Emissions rules, production limits and material substitution are reshaping steel and aluminum use in North American vehicles.

The final panel of last week’s Tampa Steel Conference brought together executives from three different service center, all of which were optimistic for 2026.

Once wintery weather gives way to sunnier spring conditions, plate sources foresee the market accepting the $50-60 per short ton spot price increases issued by Nucor Plate Group, Oregon Steel Mills, and SSAB. 

As referenced in Michael Cowden's last Final Thoughts, Mexico has opened a formal investigation into cold-rolled steel imports from the US, China, and Malaysia. Here are the details.

SunCoke Energy is heading into 2026 with a smaller coke footprint, firmer margins, and a fully sold-out book. Contract shifts, market softness, and an alleged breach by a major customer are reshaping the company’s supply position.

The extreme cold we've seen over the last month or so might be passing. But it's still stormy out there when it comes to trade issues. The latest trade matter that’s led to more pings than usual on my phone and in my inbox: Ternium México filed a trade petition against imports of cold-rolled (CR) coil from China, Malaysia, and the United States.

The chief executives at Worthington Steel and Kloeckner Metals weren’t coy about hitting aggressive near-term financial targets in their fireside chat at the Tampa Steel Conference last week.  

Steel Dynamics Inc. and SGH Ltd have upped their bid to acquire BlueScope Steel.

Three of SMU’s price indices increased this week, while two remained steady, all holding at multi-month highs.

Australia-based steelmaker BlueScope reported higher profits in its North American operations in the first half of its fiscal-year 2026 as it remained open to bids for the overall company.

Barry Zekelman used his Tampa Steel Conference fireside chat to deliver one of the bluntest assessments yet of the forces shaping North American steel. He warned that a flawed tariff structure and an impending power crunch threaten the industry more than most realize.

The US House of Representatives voted on a resolution on Wednesday, Feb. 11, to disapprove of President Trump's national emergency declaration that led to the imposition of tariffs on Canada. 

Raw steel production ramped up last week to one of the highest weekly rates recorded in the last four years, according to recently released American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) data.

US ferrous scrap prices rise in February.

Ryerson Holding Corp. and Olympic Steel Inc. announced they have completed their blockbuster merger, boosting Ryerson’s position as the second-largest service center in North America.

Following November’s nine-year low, heating and cooling equipment shipments rebounded 19% in December.

Strategic Resources also discussed its project in Quebec, which will include a 4-million-ton/year DRI-quality iron ore pelletizer. It also plans to build a plant to produce DRI, then convert it to pig iron in an EAF.

Nucor on Friday announced plans to increase plate prices by $50 per short ton (st).

CRU: US Midwest sheet prices have continued to rise from our mid-January assessment.

Hot-rolled coil hovering near $970 per ton could push toward $1,000, but Timna Tanners cautioned at the Tampa Steel Conference that anything “much above that” becomes difficult to sustain. Still, she argued that mills’ slow, disciplined price increases are working in their favor.

The deal is expected to close Friday, Feb. 13.

Earlier this week, SMU polled steel buyers on an array of topics, ranging from market prices, demand, and inventories to tariffs, imports, and evolving market events.

SMU’s sheet price indices inched up to new multi-month highs this week, while plate prices held steady.

Friedman Industries delivered a strong fiscal third quarter, posting sharp gains in sales, shipments, and margins across both its flat-rolled and tubular segments.

MagIron LLC is moving to advance its DR-grade pellet and pig iron strategy. The Minnesota-based company closed on its acquisition of AHMSA's Reynolds Pellet Plant in Indiana on Dec. 31.