A lot is going on in shipping markets as uncertainty regarding the U.S. trade situation takes hold. Tariffs are expected to affect import volumes at coastal and inland ports. Truck availability continues to be an issue with the flatbed load-to-truck ratio soaring past 100 last week and prices on the increase. Barges are frustrated by […]
The Georgia Ports Authority broke ground on the $126.7 million Mason Mega Rail Terminal on Monday. The new terminal will increase the Port of Savannah’s rail lift capacity to 1 million containers per year. “Today is a great day for Georgia and the nation,” said Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal. “Not only will this new intermodal […]
Economic indicators of manufacturing activity in the United States remain strong and portend well for the first half of 2018. This report summarizes seven data sources that describe the state of manufacturing in the U.S. We have reported on most of these separately in our Steel Market Update publications, and therefore will be brief […]
Stronger domestic demand for steel products, combined with feedstock and transportation problems, sent ferrous scrap prices on divergent paths in various parts of the country this month, reports scrap guru Mike Marley of World Steel Exchange Marketing. Tight supplies of key obsolete grades produced pricing moves ranging from unchanged for industrial steel grades in several […]
Shipping in the freight market was significantly better in the first quarter than it was during the same period last year, said MID-SHIP Group in its March 8 report. New ships are on order that will not hit the market until the end of 2109 or 2020 and for now the freight market remains bullish. […]
Economic indicators of manufacturing activity remain strong and continue pointing to good demand for steel at least through mid-year. This report summarizes seven data sources that describe the state of manufacturing in the United States. We have reported on most of these separately in our Steel Market Update publications, and therefore will be brief […]
February shipping is fraught with higher rates, low capacity and shipping delays. The trucking industry is battling a dwindling labor pool and ELD disruptions that are making rail disruptions more difficult and even causing ocean carriers to take notice. Seaborne freight Vessel freight rates are expected to rise for contracts priced for March and April, […]
Economic indicators are strong overall and portend well for the first half of 2018. This report summarizes seven data sources that describe the state of manufacturing, construction, steel activity and the overall market in the United States. We have reported on most of these separately in our Steel Market Update publications, and therefore will […]
The year is beginning with numerous weather-related disruptions to shipping. Ice in the Great Lakes region has made loading of iron ore difficult, freezing port equipment and the ore itself. Sources report carriers on the Great Lakes will be expediting ore shipments to the steel mills that were shorted, once the Soo Locks reopen in […]
The January buy period saw ferrous scrap prices move significantly higher, lending support to recent mill price increases. While February is historically a down month for scrap, sources predict that February prices will be as high or even higher than January’s. January ferrous markets ended higher by $30 per gross ton for obsolete grades and […]
Domestic steel orders are strong and flat roll prices are on the rise, which means demand from the mills is likely to push ferrous scrap prices higher in January. “All things are pointing up for ferrous scrap,” said a dealer in the Northeast. Obsolete grades should rise in higher proportions than primes, but all grades will […]
The Georgia Port Authority is expanding the Port of Savannah to handle increased cargo demand. “A strong Southeast U.S. economy, on-terminal expansion, and investment by private logistics firms throughout the region have resulted in phenomenal growth for Georgia,” said Executive Director Griff Lynch. Total tonnage for fiscal year 2017 grew 23 percent to 33,397,357 tons […]
As the year winds down, shipping in the United States is moving along with minor complications in December. River traffic has encountered reoccurring problems with aging infrastructure as record grain harvests put pressure on capacity. Ocean freight volume is improving and rates are strong. Truckers are rushing to meet electronic logging device mandates, and the […]
Economic indicators of manufacturing activity are still healthy overall and suggest conditions should remain positive for the balance of this year and into the first quarter of 2018. This report summarizes seven data sources that describe the state of manufacturing in the U.S. We have reported on most of these separately in our Steel Market […]
Georgia Ports Authority announced Monday the approval of $42.27 million in funding for a rail and gate project that will significantly expand capacity at its Garden City Terminal in Savannah. The project is part of the GPA’s $128 million Mason Mega Rail Terminal and will increase the Port of Savannah’s on-dock rail capacity by 100 […]
The dry bulk shipping market continues to recover from its historic lows of 2016. Carriers are reporting positive earnings and a more optimistic outlook for the next two years. Fleet growth in 2018 is expected to be at its lowest level since 1999, a mere 1 percent, according to the latest MID-SHIP Report. Spot rates […]
Ferrous scrap prices for the month of November began coming into focus on Friday with SMU scrap sources advising prime grades as being down $10 per gross ton compared to October levels. Obsolete and cut grades were reported as trading sideways (same prices as October). Not all regions are trading at the same pricing or […]
Economic indicators of manufacturing activity are still healthy overall and portend well for the balance of this year. This report summarizes seven data sources that describe the state of manufacturing in the U.S. We have reported on most of these separately in our Steel Market Update publications, and therefore will be brief in this summary. […]
When Steel Market Update (SMU) began talking to our ferrous scrap sources over the past couple of days, we got a variety of opinions as to where prices will go for the month of November. From the East Coast we heard sideways was the most likely direction with a little “slightly stronger” for prime grades […]
When Steel Market Update (SMU) began talking to our ferrous scrap sources over the past couple of days, we got a variety of opinions as to where prices will go for the month of November. From the East Coast we heard sideways was the most likely direction with a little “slightly stronger” for prime grades […]
Economic indicators of manufacturing activity are still healthy overall and portend well for the balance of this year. This report summarizes seven data sources that describe the state of manufacturing in the U.S. We have reported on most of these separately in our Steel Market Update publications, therefore will be brief in this summary. We […]
President Trump lifted the shipping restrictions on Puerto Rico on Thursday, at least temporarily waiving the Jones Act that prohibits non-U.S. flagged vessels from delivering shipments between two U.S. ports. With the decision, relief supplies can be brought from the mainland to devastated Puerto Rico by foreign-owned vessels. The waiver is limited to 10 days. […]
Seaborne shipping is getting a much needed rise in rates. Freight rates are gaining strength following two years of historic lows, says MID-SHIP report. The Baltic Dry index, a benchmark for overall trade volume, rose to 1470 on Sept. 21 for its highest level in two years. MID-SHIP expects the BDI to approach 2000 in […]
Steel imports are on the rise this year at ports on the Gulf and West Coast. Steel imports to the U.S. are expected to reach 39,812,592 net tons this year, an 18.6 percent increase from 2016. Port of Houston is a major hub for steel imports with 2.05 million tons of steel passing through the […]
Hurricane related delays continue to frustrate shipping on the Gulf Coast and now on the Eastern Seaboard from Florida to the Carolinas. Port closures, rail delays, truck shortages, and flooded roadways and rail systems are affecting all modes of freight transportation. Seaborne Freight The freight market gained steam in July and since then rates have […]
The chaos to commerce continues in the Houston area as a result of flooding and damage from Hurricane Harvey. Texas Governor Gregg Abbot estimates damage to the area will be in the range of $150 billion to $180 billion. A quick survey of steel service centers and distribution centers in the area found that many […]
All facilities at the Port of Houston are still closed as of Thursday, Aug. 31, following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. The Coast Guard has cleared ports in the area for restricted vessel access for ships waiting offshore. Drafts cannot exceed 33 feet at the ports of Texas City, Galveston and Freeport, and no more […]
Ships, barges, trains and trucks move the nation’s cargo. Here is this month’s look at shipping conditions by various modes. Seaborne Freight Rates have dropped in the dry bulk market recently, but may now be plateauing, according to the latest report by MID-SHIP Group. Fleet expansion was strong during the first half of 2017, growing […]
With the shuttering of up to 150 million tons of induction and EAF steelmaking capacity in China reducing its consumption of ferrous scrap, the Asian giant has actually begun exporting scrap material. Steel Market Update (SMU) has been following the progress of the Chinese as they attempt to enter the ferrous scrap export markets. They […]
Steel Market Update (SMU) first reported that the Chinese were exporting ferrous scrap in an article on April 19, 2017. With the forced shut-downs of induction and electric arc furnaces by the Chinese equivalent of our EPA, the net result is that there is an abundance of ferrous scrap needing a home. Some of that […]