“Business is great! Why is Steel Market Update always spreading so much gloom and doom about falling steel prices?” That’s not an actual quote, but we hear comments to that effect nearly every week. As if folks believe it will be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Of course, if prices decline, it won’t be because of some […]
Even as domestic hot rolled steel prices fall below $1,900 per ton, cheaper foreign steel imports continue to tempt U.S. buyers with potential discounts of 25-43%, according to Steel Market Update’s latest foreign versus domestic hot rolled steel price comparison. Foreign hot rolled steel prices are now theoretically $478-803 per ton cheaper than domestic steel, […]
I thought I’d be writing today that Steel Market Update had switched all its steel pricing momentum indicators to lower. But what you think should happen and what reality serves up are sometimes very different things. Hot-rolled coil prices continued to fall – they’re down $25 per ton compared to last week. That’s not a surprise. […]
Do you sense the steel market is changing? “There is definitely a different tone to the market over the past few weeks,” said one of the many buyers responding to Steel Market Update’s questionnaire this week expressing similar views: “There are many more sellers than buyers now. Domestic pricing will slide soon.” “The market has […]
By CRU Analyst Helen O’Cleary, from CRU’s Zinc Monitor Zinc’s price started LME Week looking mildly bullish on short covering, with the 3-month official price settling at $3,246 /t on Oct. 12. By Oct. 15, it had reached $3,944 /t, turbocharged by news of smelter cutbacks in Europe due to soaring energy prices and the […]
In this year’s edition of CRU Breakfast – part of LME Week – we explored three key themes that shaped the commodities markets – the global economic and commodities outlook, the changing role of China, and Navigating ESG. All three themes have been central to many developments in the industry and remain equally crucial moving […]
By CRU Research Manager Eoin Dinsmore, from CRU’s January Zinc Monitor Buyers who are unfortunate enough to find themselves in the spot market are paying 18-23¢ /lb for SGH zinc. The most recent deals have all been at 20¢ /lb or higher. Buyers are fearful of being left short metal, while suppliers are either sold […]
Now is a good time to think about protecting your business. Steel Market Update’s Introduction to Steel Hedging: Managing Price Risk course will introduce you to hedging principles and give you a solid foundation, so you can learn how to protect your business and minimize the risk associated with unfavorable price changes. In just two […]
I have received a few messages wishing me well on my retirement. I don’t want to disappoint anyone, but word of my retirement from Steel Market Update and the steel industry is a bit premature. I have transitioned from a full-time employee to that of a consultant to SMU. I will continue to speak to […]
The 2022 Tampa Steel Conference agenda and speakers are coming together nicely. Steel Market Update enjoys working with our friends at Port Tampa Bay as we prepare for a unique, fun, quality steel experience in Tampa, Fla., in mid-February. The conference dates are Feb. 14-16, but if you are concerned about conflicts with Valentine’s Day, […]
The 2022 Tampa Steel Conference agenda and speakers are coming together nicely. Steel Market Update enjoys working with our friends at Port Tampa Bay as we prepare for a unique, fun, quality steel experience in Tampa, Fla., in mid-February. The conference dates are Feb. 14-16, but if you are concerned about conflicts with Valentine’s Day, […]
Prices for four of the seven steelmaking raw materials tracked in this SMU analysis increased over the last 30 days. Through Oct. 20, zinc prices shot up 24% over one month prior, iron ore prices rebounded 18% in one month’s time, aluminum prices rose 9%, and coking coal prices increased 8%. In that same time […]
By Stephen Williamson, CRU Research Manager, Aluminum Aluminum prices went through the $3,000 per metric ton mark on the LME this week. Fueled by energy constraints in China and tightening supply of alloy hardeners, the price broke through the $2,950 ceiling and ran up another $200. The price leveled at $3,150 as of this writing […]
By Stephen Williamson, CRU Research Manager, Aluminum Last week’s aluminum price below $3,000 per metric ton on the LME seemed like a bargain until it ran above $3,300 earlier this week. Yet, at week’s end, trading fell back to $3,050. Further confounding the market is magnesium supply and the prices raging on the hardener front. […]
By CRU Advisor Greg Wittbecker LME cash aluminum prices have retreated hard from new 13-year highs, falling from $3,300 last week to reach $2,682 as we completed the week. Supply-side Price Concerns Get a Reality Check but Remain Dangerous Market euphoria over supply-side constraints ran into the effect of China’s “command economy” at work. Power […]
By CRU Principal Analyst Josh Spoores, from CRU’s Steel Sheet Products Monitor Over the past five weeks since we last reviewed the CME Group’s HR coil futures market, there has been a renewed surge in volatility. Spot prices of physical HR coil have clearly plateaued, yet more likely started a new downtrend, and futures prices […]
By CRU Senior Analyst Ryan McKinley from CRU’s Steel Metallics Monitor The CRU metallics price indicator (CRUmpi) changed little in October, declining slightly by 0.4% to 374.1. Price directions were mixed but fell by the most for European scrap and DRI while scrap prices in Asia had the largest increases. We expect to see similar […]
By CRU Principal Analyst Josh Spoores, from CRU’s Steel Sheet Products Monitor After 14 consecutive months of rising global sheet prices, CRU’s Global Flat Products Steel Price Indicator (CRUspi flats) has fallen m/m. This indicator fell 3.5% as sheet prices continue to fall across most regional markets. The U.S. Midwest market remains the last holdout […]
By CRU Senior Analyst Dimitry Popov and Analyst Wei Wang In recent weeks, China has been experiencing the worst power shortages in decades. Various industries in 20 provinces have been affected and even residential customers had power cuts in the extreme cases. Increasing electricity demand, short coal supply and the decarbonization drive are three main […]
By CRU Senior Analyst Ryan McKinley, from CRU’s Steel Sheet Products Monitor Steel sheet price declines continue in the USA and Europe as lead times shorten further and inventories build. In the former market, small transactions are occurring at levels above $1,900 /s.ton, but there are many more deals occurring at well below this level. As […]
Cheaper foreign hot rolled steel imports continue to tempt U.S. buyers over steel produced domestically, holding potential discounts of 25-43%, according to Steel Market Update’s latest foreign versus domestic hot rolled steel price comparison. Foreign hot rolled steel prices are now theoretically $483-832 per ton cheaper than domestic steel, after taking freight costs, trader margins […]
By CRU Principal Analyst Josh Spoores, from CRU’s Steel Sheet Products Monitor North American sheet prices are lower m/m as prices in the U.S. have finally started to fall, at least for HR coil. Over the past several weeks, the amount and overall volume of spot transactions between mills and buyers have slowed, yet we […]
As I bounce around the market this week talking to steel buyers, I am trying to get a better feel for potential changes, how contract negotiations are going, how receptive end-user customers are toward the higher prices being offered (compared to one year ago), and what kind of foreign steel offers are out there. The […]
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. has agreed to acquire Midwestern scrap recycler Ferrous Processing and Trading Co. (FPT) for $775 million. The deal means the Cleveland-based steelmaker has secured its own reserves of prime scrap, which Cliffs Chairman, President and CEO Lourenco Goncalves has previously characterized as a “precious metal.” FPT recorded earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization […]
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. has agreed to acquire Midwestern scrap recycler Ferrous Processing and Trading Co. (FPT) for $775 million. The deal means the Cleveland-based steelmaker has secured its own reserves of prime scrap, which Cliffs Chairman, President and CEO Lourenco Goncalves has previously characterized as a “precious metal.” FPT recorded earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization […]
Whether they believe steel prices are in for a sharp or a gradual correction, most of the service center and manufacturing executives responding to SMU’s latest survey agree the market is at a turning point. Here are a few of their recent observations: “Yes, I think we are at the inflection point. The market appears to be […]
Steel Market Update will once again be working with Port Tampa Bay as we host the 33rd edition of the Tampa Steel Conference. The 2022 TSC will be held on Feb. 14-16 at the Marriott Waterstreet Hotel in Tampa, Fla. This conference is the second largest steel event of its type in North America (second only […]
Steel Market Update will once again be working with Port Tampa Bay as we host the 33rd edition of the Tampa Steel Conference. The 2022 TSC will be held on Feb. 14-16 at the Marriott Waterstreet Hotel in Tampa, Fla. This conference is the second largest steel event of its type in North America (second only […]
By CRU Senior Analyst Ryan McKinley and Analyst Dave Thewlis, from CRU’s Steel Long Products Monitor Long product prices in the U.S. remained elevated and moved higher again m/m in some cases for October. Wire rod mills pushed through another round of price increases in mid-September and there was little to no resistance from buyers […]
By CRU Principal Analyst Erik Hedborg, from CRU’s Steelmaking Raw Materials Monitor Iron ore prices have increased in the past week on post-holiday optimism that a real estate collapse can be avoided and the fact that steel production is increasing after the Chinese holiday. CRU has assessed the iron ore price at $132.0 /dmt, up […]