Contributor: Brett Linton

Brett Linton

Brett Linton is a digital operations analyst for Steel Market Update, where he began his career. Linton has been in the steel industry since 2010. He has held roles as a category manager and strategic insights director at Reibus before returning to SMU in 2024. He is a graduate of The University of North Georgia with a degree in Finance and Accounting. Brett can be reached at brett@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-314-0179.

SMU Price Ranges: Cold rolled and coated move higher, hot rolled and plate flat

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

AISI: Domestic output jumps to multi-year high

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.

Heating and cooling equipment shipments rebound through December

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

Steel market chatter this week

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 Price Ranges: Sheet moves higher, plate stable

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

AISI: Raw steel production increases to 5-month high

Domestic mill output ramped up last week to a five-month high, according to the latest production data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Production has held strong in recent weeks following the multi-month lows seen at the end of the year.

Apparent steel supply tumbled to a multi-year low in November

November apparent steel supply declined 9% or 772,000 short tons (st) from October to 7.61 million st, the lowest measure recorded since February 2021

SMU Steel Survey: Buyers’ Sentiment Indices slip but still indicate optimism

SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices both edged lower this week following the multi-month highs set in mid-January.

US steel exports down to 5-year low in November

November steel exports tumbled 15% from October to the lowest monthly export rate since July 2020.

SMU Survey: Buyers have little negotiation room, mills hold firm on prices

One third of the steel buyers responding to our market survey this week reported that domestic mills are negotiable on new spot order pricing. Mills began to hold a firmer stance on prices towards the end of last year, tightening their grip in early January and holding it since.

SMU Survey: Modest drop in sheet lead times as plate ticks higher

Steel mill lead times marginally declined on sheet products this week but edged higher on plate, according to responses from SMU’s latest market survey. Overall, lead times remain one to two weeks longer than levels seen three months ago.

SMU Price Ranges: Sheet and plate prices continue to grind higher

Flat-rolled steel prices inched upward again this week as mixed demand appeared to be offset by limited supplies.

Steel imports declined to historic lows in November and December

Steel imports remain weak in November and December according to recently released final US Commerce Department data. Many of the sheet and plate products we follow slipped to multi-year lows.

AISI: Raw steel output slips

The amount of raw steel produced by US mills eased last week according to the AISI. Production remains strong compared to the multi-month lows seen at the end of the year.

Drilling activity up modestly in the US and Canada

The latest count of operational oil and gas rigs increased in both the US and Canada this week, according to the latest data released from Baker Hughes.

Steelmaking raw material prices increase through January

All but one of the steelmaking raw materials we track increased in price over the last month

Steel market chatter this week

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

SMU Price Ranges: Sheet continues mostly upward, plate holds as sources assess impact of severe cold

Sheet prices mostly continued their uneven but steady march higher this week, according to SMU’s latest check of the market.

AISI: Raw steel production jumps to 20-week high

Raw steel output from US mills climbed last week to the highest rate seen in over four months, according to the latest American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) figures

Active rig counts rise in US and Canada

The latest tally of operational oil and gas rigs increased this week in both the US and Canada, according to the latest figures published by Baker Hughes.

SMU Survey: Buyers’ Sentiment Indices indicate optimism

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

SMU Survey: Lead times stabilize following early January bump

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

SMU Survey: Few buyers report mills are negotiable on sheet and plate prices

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.

AISI: Raw steel production rises 0.2%

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 Price Ranges: Sheet moves higher, plate stalls

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

Apparent steel supply slips in October

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

Rig count update: US activity eases, recovers in Canada

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.

Steel exports grew to a 7-month high in October

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.

SMU Price Ranges: Modest sheet increases, plate jumps

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

Steel imports remain muted through December

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.