Contributor: Kristen DiLandro

Sources told SMU they’ve begun considering whether US imports of sheet might benefit the overall market.

Plate market participants wonder how plate supply will hold up in coming weeks and months, sources told SMU.   Some sources called out dwindling availability of heavier grades and said certain domestic producers have “a huge backlog.” of all grades.

The United Steelworkers labor union and U.S. Steel plan to address their partnership and profit-sharing agreement during the week of May 11.

In a May 11 price notice, SSAB upped its transaction prices for new, non-contract plate orders confirmed to ship from June 28 onward.

The process to reduce Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs for producers in Mexico and Canada garnered mixed reactions from steel and metals’ supply chain advocacy groups.  

Sheet market participants found modest spot price increases this past week, but conceded that overall market conditions remained stable.  

Plate market participants expect additional base price hikes from domestic mills, something that has some eyeing imports.

Klöckner & Co.’s North American business attributed its first quarter losses to reduced shipments, a knock-on effect of its divestment in 8 US-based distribution sites, at the end of 2025.

POSCO said its negotiations with Cleveland-Cliffs remain active, citing differences in opinions for lagging progress.

US manufacturing activity grew for the fourth straight month in April, according to the latest report from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). April marked the 18th month of overall economic expansion.  

Domestic sheet market participants found business conditions remarkably consistent this week. 

ArcelorMittal’s North American operations posted higher sales results sequentially and year over year (y/y) in its Q1 earnings report.   The North American segment of the Luxembourg-based steelmaker reported 8.3% higher sales in Q1’26 compared with the previous quarter. The steelmaker credits higher average selling prices, up 3.5% from Q4, and a jump in steel shipments, up 5.2%.

The Chicago Business Barometer eased for a second consecutive month in April. The 3.6-point slip to 49.2 for the month represents a fall back into contractionary territory.

Turner Industries said it's dedicating two state-of-the-art nuclear fabrication facilities in New Iberia and Port Allen Louisiana to producing high-precision modules and nuclear-grade piping.

Market sources say 2026 could be a stronger year for plate market participants than 2025 if this week’s conditions are indicative of how the rest of the year plays out.  

Cleveland-Cliffs plans to deploy Palantir’s advanced AI technologies across its commercial and operations internal processes.  

Recent conversations with plate market participants across the US revealed a wide range of experiences contingent on a variety of factors.  

Sheet market participants reported steady to elevated demand over the past week. But while spot prices continued to edge up, some sources said lead times were becoming more closely aligned to industry norms.

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) determined oil country tubular goods (OCTG) sold by Tenaris S.A. and certain exporters from South Korea, Turkey, and the Philippines are subject to antidumping tariffs.  

Dozens of Canadian United Steelworkers (USW) labor union members lobbied federal politicians on Thursday, April 23 in Ottawa.

The economic outlook by metalforming manufacturers remains steady for the next three months, said the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA). 

According to the latest findings from SMU’s survey, more respondents answered that President Trump’s tariff policies have been helpful to their businesses than in the prior survey. 

Revelar Capital's portfolio firm, Steele Solutions, plans to accelerate the pace of operational growth at newly acquired Maysteel Industries.

Varsteel Ltd said acquiring Pacifica Steel’s structural steel division supports its geographic expansion strategy. 

Factors like fluctuating demand, import availability, domestic product lead times, fuel surcharges, and end-user consumption left plate sources feeling unsettled.  

Participants in the hot- and cold-rolled coils market are optimistic about the market's health.

Thyssenkrupp Materials Services announced its majority stake acquisition of Aceroteca Trading, S.A.P.I. de C.V. in Santa Catarina, Nuevo León, Mexico.  

Participants in the galvanized steel market remain encouraged by strengthening product prices, even as increases unfold at a subdued pace.  

Sheet market participants said they expect hot-rolled coil prices to continue to rise. A Midwest service center source said some mills are not taking spot orders. And even on the contract side, certain mills are “keeping customers at the ‘middle’ of their contract buys to help get lead-times back into shape,” he said. That’s a […]

Plate market participants we spoke to this week offered a long list of concerns: escalating fuel and freight expenses, consolidated sources of end-market demand, tariff-related complications, as well as long lead times and delivery delays from US mills. The cherry on top? An ever shrinking availability of spot tons from domestic mills.