Contributor: Brett Linton

SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices both increased this week to multi-month highs

Steel mill lead times held steady on most products this week following the surge seen in early January, according to responses from SMU’s latest market survey

Just over a third of the steel buyers who responded to our market survey this week reported that domestic mills are willing to talk price to secure new spot orders.

The volume of raw steel produced by US mills grew last week, holding on to the gains seen the prior week, according to the latest figures released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

SMU’s sheet price indices climbed to new multi-month highs this week, while plate prices marginally declined.

The amount of finished steel that entered the US market contracted from September to October, driven primarily by slowing domestic mill shipments, according to SMU’s analysis of Department of Commerce and American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) data

The number of oil and gas rigs operating in the US fell this week, while Canadian activity recovered further, according to the latest data released from Baker Hughes.

The volume of steel shipped outside of the country increased 11% from September to October 2025 to a seven-month high of 662,000 short tons (st), according to recently released data from the US Department of Commerce.

The majority of SMU’s sheet and plate price indices rose this week, with multiple products climbing to new multi-month highs

According to recently released final US Commerce Department data, US steel imports rebounded 11% month on month (m/m) in October 2025 after falling to a multi-year low one month earlier. The latest license figures suggest imports eased back by 3% in November and by another 2% in December, with trade again nearing historical lows.

Shipments of heating and cooling equipment fell for the sixth straight month in November, reaching the lowest rate seen since October 2016, according to the latest data released by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).

Steel mill lead times increased for both sheet and plate products this week, according to responses from SMU’s latest market survey.

Steel sheet and plate prices rose across the board to start the year on limited spot availability at some mills, expectations of higher scrap prices, and hopes of stronger demand in 2026.

Domestic raw steel production inched higher last week but remains low compared to recent months, according to the latest data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)

The Chicago Business Barometer increased in December after hitting an 18-month low in November, according to Market News International (MNI) and the Institute for Supply Management (ISM)

Steel Market Update offices will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 24, through Friday, Jan. 2, for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The number of oil and gas rigs operating in the US ticked higher this week, while Canadian activity tumbled, according to the latest data released from Baker Hughes.

The total amount of raw steel produced around the world slipped 3% from October to an estimated 140.1 million metric tons (mt) in November, according to World Steel Association (worldsteel) data. This marks the lowest monthly production rate since December 2023.

Domestic raw steel production edged lower last week, according to the latest data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

Apparent steel supply rose to 8.64 million short tons in September, driven primarily by higher domestic mill shipments despite a sharp drop in finished imports.

In this Premium analysis we examine North American oil and natural gas prices, drill rig activity, and crude oil stock levels through December

Following last week’s pause, SMU’s price indices were overall steady to higher this week, holding at or near multi-month highs.

Following August’s modest 4% uptick, the volume of steel shipped outside of the country slipped 8% in September to 594,000 short tons, according to recently released data from the US Department of Commerce.

The volume of raw steel produced by US mills ticked higher last week, according to the latest figures published by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

According to recently finalized US Commerce Department data, US steel imports tumbled to a near five-year low in September

Steel mill lead times held relatively steady this week on both sheet and plate products, according to responses from SMU’s latest market survey.

Less than 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

Nucor has announced new base prices for galvanized steel products as of Wednesday, Dec. 10.

SMU’s sheet and plate prices took a breather this week, holding relatively steady at multi-month highs.

Domestic raw steel production marginally declined last week, according to the latest data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).