Contributor: Kristen DiLandro

US housing starts rose in July both month-on-month and year-on-year, according to figures from the US Census Bureau. 

Galvanized steel prices dipped to ~$48/hundredweight in August from the $50-59/hundredweight range during the month of July.  

Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) announced that it has agreed to acquire the remaining 55% equity interest in New Process Steel. 

North Star BlueScope said it is optimistic that US tariffs will bolster selling prices and tighten the spread the Australia-based steel maker suffered in 2025.

While boarding Airforce One on Friday, US President Donald Trump stated that he would be setting more steel tariffs and putting ~100% tariffs on semiconductors and chips.  

U.S. Steel, Allegheny County executive Sara Innamorato, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro clarified details from early reports about the Clairton Coke Works facility explosion just one day earlier.

Reporting and enforcing steel tariffs are two top–of-mind concerns for US manufacturers, the US Customs and Border Protection agency, importers, and others across the supply chain.  

Market participants said they have high hopes that the stable hot-rolled spot market will improve as the year rolls on.  

US President Donald Trump extended the US and China’s 90-day pause on planned reciprocal tariffs on Monday.

Sources in the carbon and alloy steel plate market said they are less discouraged by market uncertainty resulting from tariffs or foreign relations, but are instead, eager to see disruption to the flat pricing environment.

U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works experienced a powerful blast at 10:51 a.m. local time on Monday. First reports suggest the explosion sparked a destructive fire at the site.

The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) jumped 20.8% in July and is now up 27% year-to-date, according to the latest data released by Dodge Construction Network.

This week’s SMU survey reveals that a growing number of steel market participants are weary of tariffs and are awaiting evidence of progress reshoring.    At the start of 2025, now-second-term President, Donald Trump, pronounced that his plan to implement tariffs would result in increased revenue for the US.

Hot rolled spot market participants reported another week of moderate demand and ample supply, with no strong signs that conditions will change next week. 

US plate market participants are not fazed by the constricted nature of the current spot market pricing environment.   Right now, they said, mill’s choosing to hold prices from one month to the next makes sense because service centers remain amply supplied and demand is stable.  Modest upticks or slips in prices are aligned with most of the participants' expectations right now.

Nucor Plate Group has informed customers that August spot prices will remain flat. 

Nippon Steel earnings take hit from buy of U.S. Steel.

Her insatiable curiosity and desire to solve complex problems remain at the forefront of O’Neal Steel President and CEO Jodi Parnell’s success in the steel industry. Parnell is as fluent in employee management styles as she is in managing successful client technology adoption.

Seasonal steel slowdowns combined with ongoing anxieties about tariffs and mill strategies have dampened sentiment for several hot-rolled steel market participants this week.  Buyers are jittery, market stands still The operator of a Midwest-based service center said that steel buyers are scared.   “Everyone is afraid to buy steel right now. Unless you’re on a […]

U.S. Steel (USS) appointed three new, independent US members to its board of directors, the company announced.

GrafTech International attributed its second-quarter net loss to a non-cash tax expense and lower weighted average realized prices.

Cleveland-Cliffs is idling blast furnace, BOF shop, and continuous caster functions at its Dearborn plant, but downstream operations will remain unaffected, the company confirmed.   Cliffs said its pickling line tandeom cold mill (PLTCM) and its extra wide automotive-grade galvanizing line for exposed parts will continue operations at the Dearborn, Michigan-based facility.

Chief executive of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), Tom Derry highlighted how reactive buying behavior has shifted the market into a quiet demand period. Derry presented ISM data during the weekly SMU community chat. 

Algoma Steel applied to Canada’s federal Large Enterprise Tariff Loan (LETL) program for $500 million to support its long-term operations.

Despite improved operating results, SSAB Americas' second-quarter and H1’25 profits fell short of those of last year.

Metalforming manufacturers say they’re more confident that near-term economic conditions are improving

Galvanized steel prices ping-ponged in the $50/hundredweight range during the month of July, settling in at roughly the same position as in June.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters that tariffs for Vietnamese imports to the US are 20% and "specific industries" have trade protections under the Section 232 tariffs.

The United Steelworkers (USW) labor union celebrated recent news of the signed agreement between Atlas Holdings and Evraz NA in which the Connecticut-based private equity company said it plans to acquire North America’s Evraz facilities.

Steel sheet buyers report feeling bogged down by the ongoing stresses of stagnant demand, news fatigue, tariff negotiations or implementation timelines, and persistent macroeconomic uncertainty.