Contributor: Kristen DiLandro

With US economic indicators all over the map, it’s no wonder the steel market has experienced a whole lot of analysis paralysis this year.  

U.S. Steel said it plans to reduce slab consumption at its Granite City Works near St. Louis, a company spokesperson said on Monday. The Pittsburgh-based steelmaker will shift the production and processing of steel slabs to its Mon Valley Works near Pittsburgh and its Gary Works near Chicago. Citing a United Steelworkers (USW) union memo, […]

Shipments of iron ore across the Great Lakes dropped to 5 million short tons (st) in August, according to the latest data from the Lake Carriers’ Association. That’s down 9.1% compared to August 2024 and 2% lower than the month’s 5-year average. All told, the year-to-date (YTD) iron ore volumes through August totaled 26.7 million […]

Nucor kept hot-rolled (HR) coil prices unchanged this week, according to its latest consumer spot price (CSP) notice on Sept. 8.    

Here are highlights of what’s happened this past week and a few upcoming things to keep an eye on. 

Repealing any reciprocal tariffs placed by President Donald Trump on US imports of direct reduced iron (DRI), iron ore, hot-briquetted iron (HBI), and pig iron would have only a nominal impact on the US steel market, market participants said.  

Sluggish economic activity across the US was largely attributed to uncertainty caused by tariff policies and growing cost pressures, according to the US Federal Reserve’s (The Fed) latest Beige Book report.   The Fed’s latest economic report, posted on Sept. 3, consists of economic findings from the six weeks preceding Aug. 25 throughout 12 districts. Economic […]

Varsteel Ltd. announced two new strategic acquisitions. The Canadian service center stated that the acquisitions position it to meet a wider range of steel product needs.

U.S. Steel has activated batteries 19 and 20 at its Clairton Coke Works facility after pausing each “out of an abundance precaution” following an explosion at the site on Aug. 11. 

Kimberlie Henry of Ace Steel is the recipient of the 2025 SMU NexGen Leadership Award. 

Friedman Industries has acquired Century Metals and Supplies through an all-cash offer, accreditive immediately, and will operate it as a fully owned subsidiary. 

Ternium CEO Máximo Vedoya predicts that China is going to reduce its steel overcapacity.  

Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) President and Chief Operating Officer, Barry Schneider, remains bullish about the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based steelmaker’s position in the current market.  

Karla Lewis, president and CEO of Reliance Inc., told attendees of SMU’s Steel Summit 2025 that North America’s largest service center company is eyeing strategic opportunities in Mexico. 

U.S. Steel President and CEO David Burritt told audiences at SMU's Steel Summit 2025 that the iconic American steelmaker’s partnership with Nippon Steel is fast-tracking smarter steel production. 

Across the US and throughout the steel supply chain, market participants are reporting another painfully quiet week for hot-rolled (HR) coil sales.  

Carbon steel plate market participants suspect that this week’s modestly softer prices are the result of quietly negotiated prices between plate purchasers and mills.

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.