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Latest news
Titan Steel closes on buy of Randall Metals
Tinplate and specialty flat-rolled products supplier Titan Steel has closed on its acquisition of Randall Metals. Further terms of the deal were not disclosed. Randall Metals is a family-owned metals service center, specializing in tin mill and flat-rolled metals products.
Steel exports fall in September to lowest rate of the year
US steel exports eased 3% from August to September, marking the third consecutive monthly decline following June’s 17-month high, according to recently released US Department of Commerce figures. Exports have been historically low since early 2025 and remain weak compared to volumes seen in prior years. In September, 615,000 short tons (st) of steel were shipped outside of the country, 2% below the average monthly export rate of the past twelve months. September trade was 3% higher than the same month of 2025, 19% lower than September 2024, 21% lower than September 2023, and 15% lower than September 2022. For context, exports fell to a five-year low of 469,000 st in December and reached a near-five-year high of 914,000 st in May 2023.
SMU Price Ranges rise on tight supply, no signs of a year-end slowdown
Sheet and plate prices continue to move higher on trends now familiar across the flat-rolled steel market: long lead times, limited availability, and domestic mills seemingly struggling to keep up with demand. Some market participants voiced concern about a potential slowdown in data center construction in the wake of sweeping Democratic victories at both the state and federal level as well as popular sentiment turning against the centers. But no one we contacted saw such concerns impacting the direction of prices over the short term. Commodity grades of HR are hard to find. And finding some items – whether it’s floor plate or 72-inch-wide coil – has become even more difficult, one steel buyer said.
Imports fall back slightly in September, slide further in October
Final import data for September from the US Commerce Department shows a slight decline from August’s 15-month high. And October’s license count suggests another month-on-month (m/m) decline in imports.
September imports of 2,416,717 short tons (st) were down just 1% from 2,434,108 st in August, a 15-month high. October license data show a steeper 8% m/m fall to 2,214,730 st (Figure 1, left).
August appears to have been the peak for the recovery in imports, which has been ongoing since February of this year, when we saw some of the lowest levels since 2020.
Mesabi Metallics’ Broking gives public presentation about proposed Iowa steel plant
Mesabi Metallics President and CEO Joe Broking spoke last week in Lee County, Iowa, at a public meeting to discuss some details about the proposed steel plant set to be located there. Recall that President Trump announced in late September that Mesabi Metallics, owned by India’s Essar Group, will build the largest electric-arc furnace steel plant in the US in Iowa.
Commerce sets initial duties in tin mill products case vs. Taiwan, Turkey
Imports of tin mill products from Taiwan and Turkey face new anti-dumping duties (AD) in the US after a key Commerce Department determination.
In the trade case investigating allegedly dumped tin mill products, Commerce preliminarily determined that tin mill products from both countries are being sold below fair value.
AAM, USW urge Congress to preserve trade enforcement tools
Trade enforcement measures, including tariffs, should remain a bipartisan priority as a new Congress takes shape, speakers said during an event marking the release of a new report from the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM).
Ferrous scrap market chatter this month
Every month, SMU polls participants in the ferrous scrap market on a variety of topics, including prices. This month’s survey results landed just as the November scrap market was starting to settle. Preliminary results show scrap prices rose across the board for all the products SMU tracks. Final prices will be in SMU later this week. As the final numbers come in, we’d like to share where survey respondents thought prices would be on busheling, shredded, and HMS scrap, as well as where they see prices heading over the next 60 days.
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