Contributor: Laura Miller

Hybar LLC broke ground Friday on its second rebar mill in Osceola, Ark., accelerating one of the fastest expansion runs the US long-products sector has seen in years.

“Ohio Strip Steel reflects who we are today and where we’re going,” the Dover, Ohio-based company said.

Consolidation continues in the HSS (hollow structural sections) sector, with two big deals announced just this month.

Domestic steelmakers told the Congressional Steel Caucus that strong trade enforcement and Section 232 tariffs continue to drive higher production, new investment, and facility restarts nationwide.

The company announced an investment of more than $90 million for its steel shop in Koppel, Pa., and its seamless pipe manufacturing plant in Ambridge, Pa.

The investment will install a new quench-and-tempering line at the facility, which manufactures seamless pipe and tube.

Mexico’s federal government is moving to implement its new steel-industry promotion pact. Officials held a high-level plenary session to align public procurement plans with domestic steel capacity.

South Korea has overtaken Canada as the top foreign supplier of steel to the US market.

Steel Dynamics Inc. expects to post higher sequential earnings in the second quarter, with “meaningfully higher” profitability from its steel operations.

Canada’s steel production dropped sharply in May, falling 15% year over year and running 14% lower year-to-date, according to Earth-i’s Savant Global Monitoring Index. May’s production was just under 900,000 metric tons.

U.S. Steel has selected Charlotte, N.C.-based Midrex Technologies to supply the direct-reduced iron (DRI) plant to its Big River Steel Works in Osceola, Ark.

SMU’s June 12 Flat-Rolled Steel Buyers’ Survey shows a divided steel community on the effects of President Trump’s tariff policies, emerging but uneven signs of reshoring, and near-universal cost pressures tied to the Iran conflict.

President Donald Trump signaled Wednesday that he may not renew the US-Mexico-Canada agreement.

Friedman Industries posted record sales, higher volumes, and sharply improved earnings in fiscal 2026. This was driven by stronger demand, higher average selling prices, and continued contributions from its Century Metals acquisition.

Oil and gas drilling activity in Canada picked up over the past week, while drilling in the US remained mostly steady.

A major trade case finalized late last year, along with higher Section 232 tariffs, account for the reduced imports.

The provisional pact comes 10 days after UAW Local 2093 members went on strike on June 1.

The Office of the US Trade Representative has proposed a Section 301 tariff carve-out for direct-reduced iron (DRI) and hot-briquetted iron (HBI) from Brazil while planning higher tariffs for other major suppliers.

Atlas Tube on Monday announced price increases for mechanical, HSS, and piling products.

Two countries have ramped up slab exports to the US in the wake of declining tonnages from other major suppliers, despite overall slab imports falling by nearly a third from last year.

Manufacturing picked up in nine of the twelve Federal Reserve districts in May. It was one of the strongest sectors in the Fed’s June 3 Beige Book report.

The forced-labor and Brazil 301 actions are aimed more at finished goods supply chains, not raw metals.

President Donald Trump issued a June 1 proclamation modifying Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper. He pointed to new Commerce Department recommendations and “recent circumstances” affecting US users of industrial and agricultural equipment.

US steel buyers report firmer domestic demand, but long lead times, rising freight costs, and geopolitical uncertainty continue to cause caution on imports.

Steel imports could become even more prohibitive, facing even higher tariffs, pending the outcome of the Trump administration’s Section 301 investigation.

The US and Canadian rig counts moved higher as oil and gas drilling picked up in the week ending May 29, according to the latest report from Baker Hughes.

The United Steelworkers confirmed the dates for the official start of contract negotiations with U.S. Steel.

Nucor announced on Tuesday, May 26, that its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled coil will be $1,095 per short ton for the week, up $5/st from last week.

The tin mill trade case brought by U.S. Steel and the United Steelworkers is moving forward after a key vote.

Through a tariff carve-out, Tata Steel UK is able to send steel products melted in the Netherlands to the US at the UK’s reduced 25% Section 232 rate.