The U.S. automotive industry showed remarkable resiliency in 2020 despite a production shutdown in March and the most challenging year since the Great Recession. U.S. auto sales ended the year at an estimated 14.6 million units, well below forecasts of 16.7 million, yet incredibly robust amidst a pandemic, high unemployment and an economic recession. U.S. […]
Plate prices usually carry a premium to hot-rolled coil tags – but that typical relationship has been turned upside down since early October. The question now: Could price hikes of at least $140 per ton announced by some North American plate mills last week help narrow the gap? The Numbers SMU’s hot-rolled coil price currently […]
You may be thinking about participating in one of our upcoming Steel 101: Introduction to Steel Making & Market Fundamentals workshops, but wonder what it’s like to learn virtually. If you have school age kids, you already know that so many of us have adapted to online learning. Here at SMU, we’ve had to pivot […]
You may be thinking about participating in one of our upcoming Steel 101: Introduction to Steel Making & Market Fundamentals workshops, but wonder what it’s like to learn virtually. If you have school age kids, you already know that so many of us have adapted to online learning. Here at SMU, we’ve had to pivot […]
The merger of Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot S.A. (Groupe PSA) was approved last week and is expected to be finalized on Jan. 16. The new company will be called Stellantis and will have a production capacity of 8.7 million vehicles per year. The lineup will include French carmakers Peugeot and Citroen, Jeep, Ram pickups, and […]
Boomerang Tube has laid off 150 people at its mill in Liberty, Texas, because of a “rapid spike” in steel prices as well as in COVID-19 infections, according to documents filed with state labor officials. The layoffs were effective on Dec. 23, 2020, and affected approximately 50 salaried and 135 hourly employees, according to Worker Adjustment […]
Can we measure the relative importance of steel-producing versus steel-consuming industries? Last week, I looked at some ways to measure the steel industry’s importance to the economy and national defense today and in the past. Today, I explore another major point of comparison—the economic and strategic importance of steel production and steel-consuming industries economically and […]
Steel price levels are in uncharted territory these days. The current prices, especially in an economy where interest rates are near zero and inflation remains low, are truly remarkable. How did this happen and when will it end? The short answer is that nobody really knows—but we can analyze the events surrounding the spike and […]
Two phenomena that we have not seen in a long time have recently appeared. Whether they are short-term events or long-term realities is provoking debate. I am speaking of the distinct but related issues of inflation and shortages of, it seems, nearly everything. Inflation was a major factor in the U.S. economy throughout the 1970s. […]
ArcelorMittal North America will invest $18.5 million (CAD $24 million) to add capability to ArcelorMittal Dofasco’s No. 5 Hot-Dipped Galvanizing Line. The investment will allow Dofasco to add Aluminum Silicon (Alusi®) to its patented Usibor® Press Hardenable Steel for use in automotive structural and safety components. “The addition of Alusi® Coated Usibor® capacity at ArcelorMittal […]
ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel Corp. have committed to building an electric arc furnace at AM/NS Calvert, reducing the mill’s reliance on imported slabs. The companies signed a definitive agreement on Monday to construct the 1.5 million MT (1.65 million ton) EAF at a cost of $775 million. Construction will begin in 2021 with initial production […]
Flat rolled processor Steel Technologies announces the succession of Thad Solomon to President and Chief Executive Officer following the retirement of Michael J. Carroll. Carroll is retiring after 41 years with the company, serving as President and CEO since 2010 and President and Chief Operations Officer since 1999. Solomon was appointed Chief Operations Officer in […]
U.S. Steel is optimistic about its financial outlook for 2021. The addition of a strong performer to their portfolio with the acquisition of Big River Steel and improved demand and higher prices in the fourth quarter bode well for the new year. Positive EBITDA is expected in the flat rolled segment for the fourth quarter, […]
By CRU Analyst Sam Grant It is now clear that Joe Biden will become the new president of the United States in January 2021, yet he will need control of the Senate to implement his economic policy agenda. As a result, the contest for two Senate seats in Georgia on Jan. 5 will be crucial. […]
Steel Dynamics Inc. reported that fourth-quarter 2020 earnings will be significantly higher than third quarter, driven by flat roll metal spreads and steady steel shipments. Average steel prices for the quarter are expected to offset increased scrap costs. Demand remains good, particularly in automotive and construction. “Strong demand coupled with historically low steel inventories throughout […]
Worthington Industries reported net sales of $731.1 million and a net loss of $74 million for the second quarter of its fiscal 2021 ended Nov. 30 after accounting for nearly $150 million in pre-tax loss related to its investment in Nikola Corp. and $11.4 million in impairment and restructuring charges. In comparison, sales were $826.6 […]
Let’s play “fun facts.” Last week Steel Market Update published our average hot rolled spot price as $885 per ton ($44.25/cwt). With the domestic steel mills asking $900-$960 per ton for new orders of spot (if they are offering at all, which is a separate issue all by itself) SMU expects HRC spot prices to […]
Let’s play “fun facts.” Last week Steel Market Update published our average hot rolled steel spot price as $885 per ton ($44.25/cwt). With the domestic steel mills asking $900-$960 per ton for new orders of spot (if they are offering at all, which is a separate issue all by itself) SMU expects HRC spot prices […]
Cleveland-Cliffs has finalized the acquisition of ArcelorMittal USA and its subsidiaries, creating the largest flat-rolled steel producer in North America. As agreed, ArcelorMittal received $505 million in cash and 78 million shares of Cleveland-Cliffs common and non-voting preferred stock, redeemable for 58 million shares of common stock or equivalent cash. In return, Cleveland-Cliffs assumes all […]
U.S. Steel has acquired the remaining 50.1 percent stake in the Big River Steel mill in Osceola, Ark., paying $774 million in cash, giving it full ownership of one of the most advanced flat-rolled minimills in the United States. U.S. Steel paid $700 million for a 49.9 percent share in BRS in 2019, making its […]
By CRU Principal Analyst Josh Spoores, from CRU’s Steel Sheet Products Monitor U.S. Steel announced the full buyout of Big River Steel this week, while Cleveland-Cliffs closed on its acquisition of ArcelorMittal’s U.S. assets. In any other week, these headlines would drive the news flow for steel buyers and sellers. However, news this week remains […]
U.S. auto sales slowed in November, dipping to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 15.55 million units from 16.21 million in October, says Wards Intelligence. The decline was attributed primarily to three fewer selling days and one less weekend during the month. “November 2020 is a prime example of why accounting for selling day differences […]
Editor’s note: SMU Contributor David Feldstein is president of Rock Trading Advisors. David has over 20 years of trading experience in financial markets and has been active in the ferrous futures space for over eight years. You can learn more at www.thefeldstein.com or add him on twitter @TheFeldstein and on Instragram at #thefeldstein. It now […]
Much has changed since Flack Global Metals announced its plan a year ago to build a new painting and processing center adjacent to Big River Steel in Osceola, Ark. Minority shareholder U.S. Steel plans to buy the rest of BRS. Competitor Nucor got into the prepaint business with its purchase of Precoat Metals’ nearby Armorel, […]
The thought of a possible steel shortage gained new ground this past week as news of spreading coronavirus infections at ArcelorMittal Burns Harbor, the breakout at the No. 2 caster at Dofasco, the slow return of production at Stelco due to a hack of their computer systems, and the continued strike at the NLMK USA […]
Australian steel producer BlueScope has revised its forecast for the first half of FY 2021 due to improved operations at all its segments and the sale of property in the U.S. Earnings before interest and taxes are expected to increase to AUD 475 million ($345 million U.S.) compared to the October forecast of AUD 340 […]
You may be thinking about participating in one of our upcoming Steel 101: Introduction to Steel Making & Market Fundamentals Workshops, but wonder what it’s like to learn virtually. If you have school age kids, you already know that so many of us have adapted to online learning. Here at SMU, we’ve had to pivot from our live and in […]
U.S. auto sales closed October at a strong pace with year-over-year growth supporting the industry’s robust recovery. The seasonally adjusted annual rate for October was near 16.4 million, said Cox Automotive, and marked the second consecutive month of annual increase. Year-to-date sales are down less than 10 percent compared to 2019. Said Brian Finkelmeyer, Cox […]
Global steelmaker ArcelorMittal narrowed its net loss to $300 million in the third quarter, an improvement on the loss of $600 million in Q2, as sales increased 20.9 percent to $13.3 billion due to higher steel shipments and a better sales mix. Worldwide shipments for the quarter totaled 17.5 million metric tons, a 17.5 percent […]
By CRU Principal Analyst James Campbell, from CRU’s Long Products Monitor Most long product prices around the world increased this month as the recovery in demand continues. For some markets and products, the increase in supply has been outpaced by demand. Wire rod remains the strongest product right now as the increase in construction activity […]