The Chicago Business Barometer rebounded in July to a reading of 73.4, the second highest pandemic-era level, according to MNI Indicators. The July PMI is up 7.3 points over the month prior. MNI reports that demand is strong, but firms remain concerned about supply chain disruptions and rising prices. Production rose ;8.8 points in July […]
Prices for four of the seven steelmaking raw materials tracked in this SMU analysis increased from June to July, with all products following large gains in previous months. Over the last 30 days, coking coal prices increased 16% and busheling scrap prices rose 5%. Zinc and aluminum prices increased less than 1%, while shredded scrap remained flat and pig […]
The incentive to purchase hot rolled steel imports over steel produced domestically continues to grow, according to Steel Market Update’s latest foreign versus domestic hot rolled steel price comparison. As domestic prices soar higher, foreign prices are flat or declining, holding potential discounts of 11% to 27% after taking freight costs, trader margins and tariffs […]
Spot tons of flat rolled steel are still in short supply, report respondents to Steel Market Update’s check of the market this week. Any tons that are available command a rising premium. Flat rolled prices increased by another $10-40 per ton, with some reporting hot rolled offers as high as $1,900, though HRC saw a […]
Preliminary Census data shows that total foreign steel imports are up 15% from May to June, reaching 2.90 million tons. This is now the highest monthly import level of 2021, surpassing the April high of 2.64 million tons. The last time imports were this high was January 2020 when imports totaled 3.16 million tons. July import licenses through […]
Steel Market Update is pleased to announce that Bernard Swiecki of the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) will be the featured speaker for our next SMU Community Chat Webinar on Wednesday, July 28, at 11 a.m. ET. Swiecki serves as director of research at CAR as well as director of the Automotive Communities Partnership (ACP). He […]
Steel Market Update is pleased to announce that Bernard Swiecki of the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) will be the featured speaker for our next SMU Community Chat Webinar on Wednesday, July 28, at 11 a.m. ET. Swiecki serves as director of research at CAR as well as director of the Automotive Communities Partnership (ACP). He […]
The latest SMU Market Survey results are now available on our website to all Premium members. After logging in at SteelMarketUpdate.com, visit the Analysis tab and look under the “Survey Results” section for “Latest Survey Results.” The historical survey results presentations also are available in the Survey Results section for “Survey Results History.” If you […]
Flat-rolled steel prices continue to shoot upward – with no signs of the summer doldrums, the chip shortage or fears of a correction blunting their momentum. U.S hot-rolled rolled coil prices now stand at $1,850 per ton ($92.50 per cwt), up $30 per ton from a week ago. Cold-rolled coil and galvanized base prices notched similar […]
Flat-rolled steel prices continue to shoot upward – with no signs of the summer doldrums, the chip shortage or fears of a correction blunting their momentum. U.S hot-rolled rolled coil prices now stand at $1,850 per ton ($92.50 per cwt), up $30 per ton from a week ago. Cold-rolled coil and galvanized base prices notched similar […]
The number of active oil and gas drill rigs increased again this past week for both the United States and Canada, according to data released by oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The rig count is important to the steel industry because it is a leading indicator of oil country tubular goods demand. The number of […]
May apparent steel supply rose 340,000 tons over April to 9.11 million net tons, according to the latest U.S. Department of Commerce and American Iron and Steel Institute data. This is now the highest suppy level seen since January 2020, surpassing the March 2021 recent high of 8.96 million tons. May supply is up by 2.51 million […]
Steel Market Update’s latest analysis of foreign and domestic steel prices shows a growing attraction for foreign imports across the board. After taking freight costs, trader margins and tariffs into consideration, foreign prices now hold potential discounts of 8% to 38%. The spread between domestic HRC and foreign imports has surged since late-May, reaching record highs in favor of foreign HRC producers in Far […]
Manufacturing growth in New York State surged to a record high in July, according to the data collected in the Empire State Manufacturing Survey. The general business index jumped 26 points to 43.0. Indicators for new orders, shipments and inventories all increased by double digits from June, rising 16.9 points, 29.6 points, and 18.8 points, respectively. Unfilled orders increased as well, […]
Steel prices rose another $35-50 per ton this week with hot rolled and coated products surpassing notable new benchmarks of $1,800/$2,000. Steel Market Update’s canvass of the market this week puts the average HRC price at $1,820 per ton ($91/cwt) and galvanized at $2,030 ($101.5/cwt). Buyers continued to voice concerns about late mill shipments and […]
The Energy Information Administration’s July Short-Term Energy Outlook remains subject to heightened levels of uncertainty related to the ongoing economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. That big caveat aside, the increase in economic activity and an easing of the pandemic have contributed to rising energy use. EIA anticipates a mostly balanced global oil market for the […]
May heating and cooling equipment shipments rose 1.3% from April, now at 2.18 million units, according to recent data from the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). This is now the fourth-highest level in SMU’s history, with the shipment record occuring in June 2020 at 2.28 million units, followed by June 2018 then March 2021. […]
The latest SMU Market Survey results are now available on our website to all Premium members. After logging in at SteelMarketUpdate.com, visit the Analysis tab and look under the “Survey Results” section for “Latest Survey Results.” The historical survey results presentations also are available in the Survey Results section for “Survey Results History.” If you […]
Final Census data shows that May foreign steel imports totaled 2.53 million tons, down 116,000 tons compared to the month prior, a 4% decline. Although May was down from the month prior, levels remain strong compared to recent months; April imports had reached the highest level seen since July 2020. Current June import licenses through this week […]
Learn how to build and execute your company’s risk strategy. Would you like to take control of the price risk in your steel business in these uncertain times? With wild swings in steel prices now the norm rather than the exception, Steel Market Update, in conjunction with CRU and the CME Group, are here to help. […]
U.S. industrial production, manufacturing and durable goods orders continue to show improvement from the coronavirus pandemic downturn, indicating a strengthening manufacturing sector. The health of the manufacturing economy has a direct bearing on the health of the steel industry. Note that some of the historical data below has been adjusted by the U.S. Census Bureau […]
SMU found no evidence of a summer lull in our latest check of the market. Sheet prices were flat or up in a post-holiday period that in prior years has seen them slip. Hot-rolled coil and cold-rolled coil prices were unchanged. Galvanized and Galvalume prices were up $25 per ton and $50 per ton, respectively. […]
SMU found no evidence of a summer lull in our latest check of the market. Sheet prices were flat or up in a post-holiday period that in prior years has seen them slip. Hot-rolled coil and cold-rolled coil prices were unchanged. Galvanized and Galvalume prices were up $25 per ton and $50 per ton, respectively. […]
Prompted by rising energy prices, the number of active oil and gas drill rigs increased again this past week for both the United States and Canada, according to data released by oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The rig count is important to the steel industry because it is a leading indicator of oil country tubular […]
The latest spread between foreign and domestic steel prices shows an increasing attraction for foreign imports, according to our most recent foreign versus domestic hot rolled steel price comparison. The price differentials (after taking freight costs, trader margins and tariffs into consideration) between domestic HRC and foreign imports had surged from February to March of […]
As steel prices around the globe surge in response to the war in Ukraine, the brief competitive advantage domestic prices held over foreign steel has flattened, according to SMU’s latest foreign versus domestic hot rolled steel price comparison. Select foreign HRC prices are anywhere from $138 per ton cheaper than domestic prices to $74 per ton […]
New orders and production picked up in June, while employment contracted, supplier deliveries slowed and backlogs lengthened, said the Institute for Supply Management in its June 2021 Manufacturing ISM Report on Business. The Manufacturing PMI fell a slight 0.6 percentage point to 60.6 after rising in May and indicates expansion for the overall economy. “Business Survey Committee panelists […]
Steel prices rose even higher through the month of June, now the 10th consecutive month prices have increased. Hot rolled steel prices increased an average of $30 per ton each week, reaching $1,770 per ton in SMU’s latest check of the market. The SMU Price Momentum Indicator has remained unchanged since the August 2020 adjustment […]
Flat rolled steel prices continued to move higher with benchmark hot rolled coil spot prices now up for the 47th week in a row. But when we looked at HRC, we found prices up only by $10 per ton. This is the lowest rate of increase since mid-March/early April, when we saw HRC increase by […]
Editor’s note: Steel Market Update is please to share this Premium content with Executive members. For information on how to upgrade to a Premium-level subscription, email Info@SteelMarketUpdate.com. Prices for all but one of the steelmaking raw materials tracked in this SMU analysis increased from May to June, with most products following large gains seen in […]