Big River Steel continues to hold an option to purchase land at the Port of Brownsville, Texas, where the steelmaker has said it was considering building a second electric-arc furnace (EAF) steel mill. “They still have the option. It’s moving at a slow pace. But we’re still in frequent discussions,” Port of Brownsville Senior Director […]
Section 232 tariffs and quotas have left domestic steelmakers and steel consumers in sharply different realities. One side is investing big at home and enjoying record profits. The other is angry about sharply higher costs and is scouting for more steel abroad. That was the takeaway from a trade roundtable at Steel Market Update’s virtual Tampa […]
A decision from the U.S. Court of International Trade upholding Section 232 tariffs on imported steel means any repeal of the trade action will have to come from the Biden administration with the support of Congress, a top American Metals Supply Chain Institute (AMSCI) executive said. AMSCI should know because it went before the same […]
The Congressional Steel Caucus–in a bi-partisan show of unity–has asked President Joe Biden to keep Section 232 tariffs and quotas in place. The request comes as the Biden administration has acknowledged that a review of trade policies enacted by former President Donald Trump is ongoing. “The review is underway of the previous administration’s trade policy […]
U.S. Steel does not plan to build additional electric-arc furnace capacity for the “foreseeable future,” company executives said. The company also plans to keep the “A” blast furnace at its Granite City Works in southern Illinois idled, they suggested. U.S. Steel acquired two flat-rolled EAFs when it closed its deal for Big River Steel’s mill […]
“What a difference a quarter can make,” exclaimed U.S. Steel President and CEO David Burritt during the opening of the fourth-quarter 2020 earnings call. The company posted positive net earnings of $49 million following a net loss of $234 million in the third quarter and a net loss of $688 million in Q4 2019. Net […]
No steel mill earnings report is complete these days without the CEO touting his company’s environmental credentials. Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves said this week that his company is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions 25% by 2030. “We at Cleveland-Cliffs acknowledge that one of the most important issues impacting our planet is climate change. […]
Cracks might be forming in the groundwork that has to date led U.S. flat-rolled steel prices to their highest point on record. Whether they are big enough to send towering prices tumbling down or merely a distraction remains to be seen, markets sources generally agreed. Prices have nowhere to go but up in the short […]
U.S. Steel has closed its $774 million deal for the remaining stake in electric-arc furnace steelmaker (EAF) Big River Steel. “Taking a page from the Big River Steel playbook, we are closing on this world competitive green steel asset purchase under budget and ahead of schedule,” said U.S. Steel President and Chief Executive Officer David […]
I anticipate next week’s spot hot rolled and other flat rolled steel prices will be higher than what we reported on Tuesday evening (HRC = $1,080 per ton average). We received information from an end user today of hot rolled purchases of $1,140 per ton for end of March/early April production. An order for HR […]
Most new U.S. flat-rolled electric-arc furnace steelmaking capacity won’t start up until the second half of this year, which could have big implications for spot hot-rolled coil prices. The back-ended nature of the capacity add means the market might sustain hot-rolled coil prices of $1,000 per ton or more longer than many buyers believe, industry sources […]
Big River Steel is running the new, second line at its steel mill in Osceola, Ark., at close to 90% of its rated capacity. “Big River Steel expected and has had another record startup in terms of its second furnace and caster,” said a company spokesperson in an email to Steel Market Update. The company […]
The U.S. electric-arc furnace steelmaking industry is eager to work with the administration of President-elect Joe Biden to craft better trade, infrastructure and manufacturing policies, the head of the Steel Manufacturers Association said. And those efforts could be fruitful given Biden’s moderate positions on those issues and the moderation that will be necessary to effectively […]
After communicating with one of our readers over the weekend, I realize it is important for our readers, and those who interact with our website, to understand what the SMU Price Momentum Indicator means. The SMU Price Momentum Indicator definition on our website clearly states that this is meant to be a visual showing where […]
Quality information is KEY…in steel and in life. I have been struggling on how to deal with what I saw yesterday at the U.S. Capitol. We cannot allow thugs to attack the workings of our democracy. At the same time, we should hold those who spread disinformation to the public accountable for the disservice they […]
Quality information is KEY…in steel and in life. I have been struggling on how to deal with what I saw Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol. We cannot allow thugs to attack the workings of our democracy. At the same time, we should hold those who spread disinformation to the public accountable for the disservice they […]
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, […]
Not only are wholesalers who service the HVAC and construction industries wondering how high galvanized steel prices can possibly go, they’re even more worried about how low prices could go once the market normalizes next year. In a conference call this morning, members of the Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) reported firm […]
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 […]
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 […]
Yesterday (Wednesday, Dec. 2) we hosted one of our SMU Community Chat Webinars. The guest speaker was Josh Spoores, Principal Analyst and editor of the Sheet Monitor for CRU. I thought it was one of the best presentations and discussions we have ever had at one of our webinars. You can see a recording and […]
It is Tuesday, Dec, 1, 2020, and the U.S. has just returned from Thanksgiving. I hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend and did what was necessary to remain safe as we wait for the COVID-19 vaccines to be distributed around the world. There is a light at the end of this long journey we have […]
Three out of four respondents to Steel Market Update’s market trends questionnaire this week said they expect to see shortages and possible allocation of steel in the next few months. Buyers report that deliveries from all the mills are routinely 2-4 weeks late. Service centers are getting inquiries from other service centers, even competitors, who […]
Two recent steel mill issues have taken steel capacity out of the market, further tightening supply. Sources report that a COVID-19 outbreak at ArcelorMittal Burns Harbor has disrupted production affecting “at least” 50,000 tons. Customers report they have been told some January orders will be delayed until February and new orders for February may not […]
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 […]
Big River Steel has successfully started up a second electric arc furnace at its mill in Osceola, Ark., completing the Phase Two expansion that doubles the capability of the advanced steelmaking facility ahead of the original timeline. “When describing the success of our Phase Two construction efforts, I am extremely proud to be able to […]
I am hearing the U.S. Steel Gary Works #4 blast furnace will be coming back up by the end of this year. According to AIST, the #4 furnace is rated at 1,390,000 tons of pig iron annually. So, this means we will have more supply added from USS and from Big River Steel as they […]