NLMK USA crude steel production at NLMK Indiana grew 11.5 percent q/q in the third quarter to 175,000 tonnes (192,901 tons). Capacity utilization increased to 91 percent. Rolled steel output at NLMK USA totaled 515,000 tonnes (567,680 tons) a decline of 4.9 percent quarter over quarter. Sales for third quarter rolled-steel totaled 531,000 tonnes (585,317 […]
Total service center carbon steel shipments in September increased by 21,100 to 3.498 million tons. Shipping days were unchanged at 21. On a tons per day basis, (t/d) shipments increased from 165,600 tons in August to 166,600 in September. In each of the last four months t/d shipments for each particular month was the best […]
SMU was reading a blog post put up by Metal Miner this morning regarding the consolidation of the steel industry. The main premise of the guest article from James May of Steel-Insight out of Canada, was 81 percent of the hot rolled production in the United States and Canada is controlled by four companies: ArcelorMittal, […]
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) made the following statement this week: “Despite setbacks, an uneven global recovery continues. Largely due to weaker-than-expected global activity in the first half of 2014, the growth forecast for the world economy has been revised downward to 3.3 percent for this year, 0.4 percentage point lower than in the April […]
The Dodge Momentum Index, a monthly measure of initial reports for nonresidential building projects in planning, fell 0.7 percent from August to a reading of 115.8 for September. The index rose 13 percent in the first half of this year but has been down in the past three months by a combined percentage of 7 […]
Big River Steel has asked the Arkansas court to dismiss a federal lawsuit by Nucor Corp aimed at preventing construction of the new mill. In documents filed Friday, Big River steel called the suit by Nucor “a scorched earth campaign.” Nucor claims that Big River Steel’s mill will violate the Clean Air Act, an allegation […]
A new steel mill for Ohio, that has been in planning since 2005, is getting closer to reality but in a revised version. New Steel International hoped to build a mini mill at Franklin Furnace in Scioto Country but it has agreed to downsize to a pig iron plant and a 300 megawatt cogeneration facility. […]
Buyers and sellers of flat rolled steel continue to be optimistic regarding their company’s ability to be successful in the current market environment as well as out three to six months into the future. Steel Market Update reported their Sentiment Index as +64 on Thursday, October 9th. The + 64 reading is unchanged from their […]
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report on non-farm employment indicated that 248,000 jobs were added in September. August , which had been disappointing, was revised up by 38,000 and July was revised up by 31,000. The three month moving average, (3MMA) declined to 224,000 in September and has declined for three straight months but […]
The collapse of spot iron ore prices resulted in a surge in iron ore swaps, options and futures in September. Options hit the highest ever volume at 15.6 million tonnes followed by futures at 25 million tonnes according to TSI data. In total, over 62 million tonnes of futures and derivatives were cleared by exchanges […]
Building permit values in Canada fell by 27.3 percent to $6.7 billion in August with declines across the board in residential and nonresidential construction following 3 months of double digit gains, according to data published by Statistics Canada. The Royal Bank of Canada had forecast a decline of 6.5 percent from July’s record of $9.15 […]
Each month the Commerce Department issues its Construction Put in Place (CPIP) data on the first working day covering activity two months earlier. August data was released on October 1st. Construction put in place is based on spending work as it occurs, estimated for a given month from a sample of projects. In effect the […]
Our Price Momentum Indicator has been stuck in “Neutral” since the last day of June 2014. We are now entering our 4th month and hot rolled steel prices have barely budged from the center line (OK, there have been some mild gyrations but no clear cut path up or down during the past three months). […]
SSAB, following its successful merger with Finnish steelmaker Rautaruukki, expects to reduce its annual cost base by SEK 1.4 billion ($194.7 million) over a three year period. In addition to cost synergies, SSAB expects to free up cash flow in the amount of SEK 500 million ($69.5 million)—half of it during 2015. The savings may […]
Essar Steel Minnesota announced Wednesday that it has secured funding to move ahead with completion of its $1.8 million taconite plant. Last month a bond deal was called off after the company failed to raise the required equity by the bond deadline. The amount of the funding was not disclosed but Essar Assistant General Counsel […]
Manufacturing activity grew for the 16th consecutive month but slowed to a PMI reading of 56.6 in September’s Manufacturing ISM Report on Business. While economists were expecting a smaller drop of 58.2 to 58.5 from last month’s reading of 59.0, U.S. manufacturing is still holding strong. “The September PMI registered 56.6 percent, a decrease of […]
Steel Market Update spent the last two days canvassing end users and service centers to see where flat rolled steel prices are at the moment and where they might be heading from here. We heard from many service centers and end users that business conditions and demand for their products are doing quite well. We […]
The Canadian economy was flat in July following six months of gains according to data released by Statistics Canada on Sept. 30, 2014. GDP growth was unchanged, failing to meet economist forecasts of 0.2 to 0.3 percent growth. Manufacturing output grew by 1 percent. Durable goods rose 1.6 percent with notable increases in transportation equipment, […]
Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. expects significantly improved results for fourth quarter FY 2014, ending August 31, 2014. The company’s steel manufacturing business benefited from growing West Coast construction demand and productivity initiatives that resulted in operating income in the range of $13 to $14 per ton, the highest quarterly profit since FY 2008. Metals recycling […]
Essar Steel Algoma announced a “turnaround performance” in their second quarter FY 2015 guidance for the period ending September 30, 2014. The company expects second quarter steel shipments to equal 680,000-690,000 tons with EBITDA of CDN $75-85 million, compared to 530,000 tons and CDN $12.4 million EBITDA in Q1. Second quarter EBITDA projections far exceed […]
On Wednesday, Steel Market Update (SMU) participated in a monthly steel conference call hosted by the Heating, Air-conditioning , Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI). HARDI wholesalers supply galvanized sheet and coils to the mechanical contractors involved in residential, multi-family and commercial construction segments of the construction industry. Consolidation was the first topic of discussion with AK Steel […]
Essar Steel’s Canadian entities have been struggling with financing this year and now that Essar Steel Algoma problems appear resolved, Essar Steel Minnesota LLC (ESML) finds itself in dire need of capital. The $1.8 billion taconite plant under construction in Nashwauk, Minn., failed to raise the $361 million in equity needed in time to secure […]
Sales of new residential homes in August surged 18 percent from July and 33 percent year over year to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 504,000, according to Department of Commerce data. The level of sales last month was the highest seen since May 2008. The median sales price in August was $275,600 and average […]
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) released their Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score for the month of August on Wednesday this week, reporting that the latest index declined slightly after reaching last month’s seven-year high. The ABI score for August was 53.0, down 2.8 points from July’s score of 55.8. Note that the index is […]
Zinc prices hit a three year high in September at $2390/t, escalating quickly from the mid $1900s in March. Although the prices have moderated in the last few weeks zinc, as of September 18, zinc was at $2247/metric ton on the LME index. The soaring prices are due to production shortfalls and higher demand. The […]
Total service center carbon steel shipments in August decreased by 61,400 tons to 3.477 million tons. Shipping days also decreased from 22 to 21. On a tons per day basis (t/d) shipments increased from 160,900 tons in July to 165,600 in August. All three months June, July and August had the best t/d shipments of […]
Steel Dynamics Inc. expects profits from third quarter steel operations to surpass second quarter and year over year results. In their third quarter guidance, SDI indicated earnings of $0.34 to $0.38 per diluted share that will include before tax charges of $34 million related to the acquisition and financing of Severstal Columbus. Shipments and metal […]
Nucor is expecting higher profitability for its sheet steel, structural, bar and plate operations for third quarter. In their quarterly guidance, Nucor noted that manufactured goods, including energy and automotive, are their strongest markets. The high level of imports continues to pressure prices downward. Growth in the residential market has benefited the fabricated construction products […]
Housing starts and building permit authorizations fell in August according to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Housing starts were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 956,000, 14.4 percent below the July revised estimate of 1,117,000 but 8.0 percent above the August 2013 estimate. Single family housing starts fell 2.4 percent to a […]
US Steel announced today that as part of its strategic transformation effort it will no longer pursue the expansion of its Keetac iron ore pellet operations at Keewatin, Minn., or continue additional investments into the carbon alloy facility at Gary Works. The expansion at Keetac was intended to upgrade and restart the idled pelletizing line […]