Consumer confidence improved from 92.6 in November to 96.5 in December. The very disappointing November result was revised upwards. The three month moving average (3MMA) declined from 98.1 in November to 96.1 in December. As we have reported in earlier write-ups on this subject, 2015 has been tremendously more variable month to month than 2014. […]
In November, vehicle sales in the US maintained their very high seasonally adjusted annual rate of 18.2 million units for the third consecutive month. All the growth this year has been in light trucks which includes crossovers. Sales in November were 6.2 percent higher than the same month a year ago. Year to date sales […]
On Friday, SMU was speaking with the CEO of a Midwest-based service center who was advising us that, in his opinion, based on the conversations he was having with his mill suppliers, we should expect more flat rolled steel price increases to come. The mills were already asking his company for more and the mills’ […]
The UAW has ratified a new contract with Nexteer Automotive after rejecting a first tentative agreement just two weeks ago. The ratification averted another possible strike by the membership. UAW Local 699, representing 3,200 workers at Nexteer, reported that 64.2 percent of voting members supported the new contract. Changes from the original agreement include increasing […]
AK Steel joins other steelmakers in reporting reduced shipment volumes for fourth quarter. In its guidance report, the company says it expects shipments of approximately 1.6 million tons, down 14 percent from Q3. The decrease is a result of reduced sales in the carbon steel spot market due to the adverse impact of pricing from […]
December 16, 2015 – ArcelorMittal today announces that Lou Schorsch, 66, senior executive vice president, member of the Group Management Board and CEO of ArcelorMittal Americas will retire from the company, effective end of February 2016. Mr. Schorsch joined the company in 2003 as CEO of Ispat Inland. Going forward it has been decided to […]
Nucor is expecting weaker financial results in fourth quarter. Operating performance in the steel mill segment was down from third quarter, especially at sheet and bar mills, as lower selling prices outpaced the decline in raw materials pricing. “This performance is due to continued deterioration in global steel markets amplified by global excess capacity and […]
Steel Dynamics expects reduced profitability from its steel operations in fourth quarter compared to third. Lower steel shipments, customer destocking and seasonal demand weakness are impacting the steel platform and, in particular, commodity grade hot roll products. Lower steel pricing will offset any benefits from lower ferrous scrap costs. Fabricated steel joist and decking products […]
AK Steel plans to begin layoffs at its plant in Ashland, Ky., during the week of Christmas. Scott Conley, President of USW Local 1865 said 615 to 620 people will be laid off and everyone should be out of the hot end of the plant by December 31. AK Steel executives blame the layoffs on […]
Layoffs at US Steel Granite City Works are expected to begin December 27, according to reports by USW leaders in the Dec. 10 Bellville News-Democrat. US Steel announced in October that it was considering idling the steel plant in Granite City and issued WARN notices to over 2000 workers. Shortly before Thanksgiving the company confirmed […]
The Nexteer Automotive strike was called off after just one day. A second tentative agreement was reached on Tuesday night, Dec. 8 and workers at UAW Local 699 were told to resume their scheduled shifts. The first tentative contract was rejected by an overwhelming majority of workers at the company which produces steering and driveline […]
I expect the other domestic mills to go along with price increases of their own – whether they choose to announce the move may depend on what they feel is in their best interest. I would anticipate that Nucor will come out with their own announcement. US Steel and ArcelorMittal are in the process of […]
A strike is in effect for 3,200 UAW workers at Nexteer Automotive after 97 percent of the membership voted against a tentative agreement on Sunday. The union and Nexteer exchanged proposals on Monday but could not come to a compromise before the 11:59 p.m. deadline. Nexteer expressed frustration over the decision to strike after negotiating […]
A Delaware judge invalidated a patent by ArcelorMittal in a ruling favoring AK Steel in a dispute that has been ongoing for almost six years. The original suit, filed in January 2010 by ArcelorMittal, claimed that AK Steel’s lightweight, high-strength steel Ultralume, used in automotive applications, violated ArcelorMittal’s 2001 patent (patent 6,296,805—referred to as ‘805) […]
On Friday of this past week Steel Market Update (SMU) adjusted our Price Momentum Indicator from Lower to Neutral. This move is being made as we are seeing more evidence of the domestic steel mills taking a stand and either raising spot prices (especially on coated steels) or refusing to go any lower. As one […]
Ferrous scrap prices are one of the key indicators to watch as the market determines if we have reached the bottom in the slide in flat rolled prices and, if prices will rebound from here. The thought process has been that a move higher in scrap will help change the psychology of the market and […]
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) analysis of non-farm employment reported on Friday that 211,000 jobs were added in November, which was in line with economist’s consensus expectations. Both September and October were revised up by a total of 38,000. The three month moving (3MMA) of gains through November was 218,000. The unemployment rate, U3, […]
The following article was written by Xavier Boucherat and appeared in the Q4 2015 issue of Automotive Megatrends Magazine and is being reprinted by Steel Market Update with permission. It may be lighter, but aluminium is fundamentally a quick fix, and OEMs currently using aluminium will convert those parts back to steel to reduce mass […]
Steel Market Update (SMU) Steel Buyers Sentiment Index continued its long slide as buyers and sellers of flat rolled steel are less optimistic this week regarding their company’s ability to be successful both in the existing (Current) market as well as three to six months into the future (Future). Respondents to our queries regarding Sentiment […]
US Steel Corp is realigning its flat-rolled operations and management as part of its Carnegie Way transformation. The flat-rolled facilities will report through three consolidated commercial entities: Automotive Solutions, Consumer Solutions, and Industrial, Service Center and Mining Solutions. “The commercial entities have worked to position our company to be best-in-class in innovation, customer service and […]
The Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) released its November 2015 Business Conditions Report this week. The survey of 111 PMA members in the U.S. and Canada indicates that manufacturers are expecting steady economic conditions during the next three months. Incoming orders are expected to remain at the current rate with 32 percent forecasting an increase in […]
Consumer confidence declined markedly in November continuing this year’s highly erratic trend and, in fact, the view of the present situation and expectations exhibited the sharpest reversal since November 2011 when they went the other way. As we have reported in earlier write-ups on this subject, 2015 has been tremendously more variable month to month […]
We learned late this afternoon that two domestic steel mills are offering to pay higher prices for shredded scrap from east coast dealers. Shredded scrap buy offers have been made at $180-$185 per gross ton up $10 to $15 per gross ton higher than November numbers (and higher than October numbers since November prices moved […]
On Monday of this week, Steel Market Update conducted an interview with Michael McQuade, CEO for US Steel Canada. The purpose of our interview was to see if USSC will be a viable supplier for 2016 automotive contracts. Many times articles begin by our customers asking what might be construed as a simple question that […]
In October, vehicle sales had another small gain from September’s post-recession high of almost 18.2 million units at a seasonally adjusted annual rate. This followed the August rate of 17.8 million units. Both at the time were the best pace since July 2005, when incentives caused sales to surge. Sales in October were 10 percent […]
It used to be that labor unions fought to keep automobile production in the United States. Soon, the biggest “domestic” auto makers will be companies like Honda and Toyota as two of the Big 3 head to Mexico. The UAW labor negotiations concluded Friday with the ratification of agreements with Ford and GM. Part of […]
New Star Metals is changing its name to Material Sciences Corporation. New Star acquired MSC in March 2014 which remained in operation under the MSC brand. “We have an aggressive growth plan and believe we should go to market as one team – Material Sciences Corporation,” said CEO Patrick Murley, CEO of New Star Metals […]
Flat rolled steel prices moved sideways to slightly lower this week, an improvement from the almost straight-line dive we have been reporting for the last couple of months. Our benchmark hot rolled index remained the same as the week prior at $380 per ton ($19.00/cwt) but we did pick up some minor movement at the […]
Monthly steel imports dropped from 4.4 million tons at the beginning of 2015 to 2.83 million tons as of September 1. SMU asked ports around the country to comment on what they are seeing in relation to import levels and warehoused inventory. The Port of Los Angeles reports steel imports (breakbulk and slab) of 1.3 […]
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) analysis of non-farm employment reported on Friday that 271,000 jobs were added in October, which was well above economist’s consensus expectations. August’s gains were revised up by 17,000, but September’s were revised down by 5,000. This followed September’s result of 137,000 which was well below consensus expectations of about […]