Steel prices gained momentum in August as demand improved and the mills announced a new round of price increases. As of last week, Steel Market Update’s hot rolled price average had risen to $485 per ton, up $45 in just two weeks from the mid-month low, and has since topped the $500 mark. Scrap prices were flat […]
Mills have hiked prices on flat rolled and plate steels in the past 10 days and it appears they will collect at least a portion of the increases. Steel Market Update’s check of the market this week shows prices up as much as $30 per ton, depending on the product, on top of a $10 […]
Last Friday, Nucor notified customers of a revision to its galvanized coating extras. Nucor advised customers, “Consistent with our practice to monitor the cost of zinc, we have revised our galvanized coating weight extras effective with new orders acknowledged for the week ending Oct. 10, 2020.” Nucor is the third mill to revise its galvanized […]
Among steelmaking raw materials, the prices of iron ore, pig iron and zinc have seen big gains in the past three months. Scrap prices have been challenged, but saw some improvement in August, notably in the coastal regions, and are expected to rise in September, lending support to higher finished steel prices. Table 1 summarizes […]
The latest Energy Information Administration estimates show U.S. liquid fuels consumption averaged 16.2 million barrels per day (b/d) in Q2 2020, down 20 percent from Q2 2019 due to COVID-related travel restrictions and reduced economic activity. EIA forecasts U.S. liquid fuels consumption will average 18.9 million b/d in Q3 (down 1.8 million b/d YOY), rising to […]
Recently released preliminary steel import data shows July imports totaling 2.69 million net tons, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. This is up nearly twofold over final June import figures, primarily due to the quarterly reset on semi-finished import quotas. Taking semifinished products out of the picture, imports of finished steels rose 7 percent from […]
Active U.S and Canadian gas and oil rigs were flat to down this past week, according to oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The active drill rigs count is important to the steel industry because it is a leading indicator of oil country tubular goods demand. The number of active U.S. rigs remained steady at 254, […]
California Steel Industries notified customers on Wednesday that it will be raising the extra charge for galvanized coatings due to an increase in the market price of zinc. CSI advised customers: “Due to changing zinc costs, our Galvanized Coating Extras have been revised. These changes will be effective beginning with orders placed for October shipment […]
This week’s comparison of foreign and domestic hot rolled prices shows that U.S-produced steel continues to hold a heavy price advantage over foreign imports, albeit slightly less than mid-August, according to SMU and CRU indices. After slightly shrinking in May, the differentials between domestic HRC compared to German, Italian and East/Southeast Asian imports widened over the last […]
Prices for flat rolled steel products moved up by as much as $20 per ton in the past week, while plate increased by $10, according to Steel Market Update’s check of the market on Monday and Tuesday. SMU’s Price Momentum is higher on sheet products, but Neutral on plate products, as the plate mills’ price […]
Steel Dynamics Inc. has revised their galvanized coating extras due to the recent increase in zinc prices. SMU has done an analysis on the old and new extras, provided below. SDI extras increased an average of 20.3 percent. Zinc prices declined significantly during the first quarter of the year, dropping from January’s high of $1.1186 […]
U.S apparent steel supply inched upwards in June to 6.93 million net tons, according to U.S. Department of Commerce and American Iron and Steel Institute data. While up over the previous month, April and May were the two lowest supply levels in the last 10 years at 6.54 million tons and 6.61 million tons, respectively. […]
Active U.S and Canadian gas and oil rigs were mixed this past week, according to oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The active drill rigs count is important to the steel industry because it is a leading indicator of oil country tubular goods demand. The number of active U.S. rigs declined by 3 to 244, with […]
This week’s comparison of foreign and domestic hot rolled prices shows that U.S prices now hold the widest price advantage over foreign imports in our limited 10-year data history, according to SMU and CRU indices. After slightly shrinking in May, the price gap between domestic HRC compared to German, Italian, and East/Southeast Asian imports has widened over […]
U.S. steel exports in June increased 20 percent from the prior month’s 24-year low. Now standing at 423,000 tons, June exports are 29 percent lower than levels one year prior, according to recent U.S. Department of Commerce data. The 2020 monthly average for exports has decreased to 522,000 tons, whereas the first six months of […]
We have passed through 700 registered attendees for this year’s SMU Virtual Steel Summit Conference. Activity has been high and we are confident we will reach our 800+ registered attendee goal. We will be the largest steel conference (live or virtual) in North America this calendar year. Those who have seen our platform are excited. […]
We have passed through 700 registered attendees for this year’s SMU Virtual Steel Summit Conference. Activity has been high and we are confident we will reach our 800+ registered attendee goal. We will be the largest steel conference (live or virtual) in North America this calendar year. Those who have seen our platform are excited. […]
Steel Market Update’s check of the market this week shows hot rolled offers typically in the $460-$480 range. But sources tell us actual transactions are occurring anywhere from $480 down to $400, depending on volumes and other considerations. Thus, SMU puts the current benchmark price for hot rolled at $440 per ton, down $10 from […]
Steel Market Update’s check of the market this week shows flat rolled steel prices firming up a bit as demand slowly recovers from the coronavirus disruptions. SMU puts the current benchmark price for hot rolled at $465 per ton, up from $440 last week. SMU’s Price Momentum Indicators remain at Neutral, though the market may […]
June heating and cooling equipment shipments totaled 2.28 million units, up 6.8 percent from the same month one year ago, according to recent data from the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). This is the highest monthly shipment level in SMU’s 12+ year limited history, surpassing the previous monthly high in June 2018 at 2.27 […]
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 […]
Recently released Census data shows final June steel imports totaled 1.40 million net tons, down 22 percent from May and down 50 percent from March, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. This is the lowest monthly import level since November 2009 when total imports were 1.38 million tons. This final June figure is just […]
Steel Market Update’s check of the market over the past two days shows that nearly 70 percent of steel buyers believe prices are near a bottom, and the numbers support that view, showing little variation from last week. SMU puts the benchmark average price for hot rolled steel at $450 per ton, unchanged from last […]
Steel prices declined throughout the month of July, although mills announced price increases in the third week of the month. As of last week, Steel Market Update’s hot rolled price average had declined to $450 per ton. Scrap prices declined from June to July by $18-48 per ton. SMU adjusted its Price Momentum Indicator from Lower […]
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index decreased in July, a decline from June but an improvement over recent months. The composite index now stands at 92.6, down from 98.3 in June, and down from 135.8 percent one year prior. “Consumer Confidence declined in July following a large gain in June,” said Lynn Franco, Senior Director […]
U.S. production of crude oil decreased in May by 1.99 million barrels per day (b/d), the largest monthly decrease since at least January 1980, according to the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. May marks the sixth consecutive monthly decrease in crude oil production and is the third month since March when the […]
Active U.S and Canadian gas and oil rigs were flat to up this past week, according to oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The active drill rigs count is important to the steel industry because it is a leading indicator of oil country tubular goods demand. The number of active U.S. rigs remained steady at 251, […]
U.S. raw steel production rose 0.7 percent to 5,453,000 net tons in June, as reported last week by the American Iron and Steel Institute in Washington. June production was well below the 2020 average of 6,687,000 tons, and down 31.7 percent compared to the same month last year. June production was 38,000 tons higher than […]
The deadline to submit your nominations for the 2nd annual SMU NexGen Leadership Award, sponsored by the Steel Manufacturers Association, has been extended through Aug. 5. The award is designed to recognize and celebrate the excellence of emerging leaders within the greater steel community. There’s still plenty of time to nominate the young stars within […]
Steel Market Update’s check of the market this week shows flat rolled and plate steel prices falling by a further $10, taking the benchmark hot rolled price down to $450 per ton. Most respondents expressed doubts that the price increase announced last week by the integrated mills will gain any traction, especially since the minimills […]