Tag: demand

This week sources said spot prices on hot-rolled coils increased modestly. 

Earlier this week, SMU polled steel buyers on an array of topics, ranging from market prices, demand, and inventories to tariffs, imports, and evolving market events.

Participants in the US hot- and cold-rolled sheet market cautiously called the week a win as prices inched north and demand picked up.  

Entering 2026, tin has led a frenzied base metal rally during a historic phase for commodities. Frothy market conditions, driven by volatile investor positioning and shifting macro risk sentiment, pushed several metals—including tin—to record highs in January, before a sharp correction in February.

SMU polled steel buyers on an array of topics, ranging from market prices, demand, and inventories to tariffs, imports, and evolving market events.

Steelforce Packaging restructured its North American operations into an entity it now calls Steelforce America. Brion S. Talley will lead Steelforce America as its CEO.

Global steel plate prices are expected to trend upward as North American restocking and European regulatory costs will drive the market, even as recovery in Asian markets remains gradual and cost-dependent.

Participants in the domestic sheet market say they experienced lighter inquiries and fewer orders than in previous weeks, rendering domestic mill price increases for spot-market hot- and cold-rolled coils irrelevant.  

SMU’s Mill Order Index (MOI) rose again in January, maintaining momentum from the month prior. The increase came as service center intake levels ticked up, supported by a jump in shipments, according to our latest service center inventories data.

The final panel of last week’s Tampa Steel Conference brought together executives from three different service center, all of which were optimistic for 2026.

Once wintery weather gives way to sunnier spring conditions, plate sources foresee the market accepting the $50-60 per short ton spot price increases issued by Nucor Plate Group, Oregon Steel Mills, and SSAB. 

Earlier this week, SMU polled steel buyers on an array of topics, ranging from market prices, demand, and inventories to tariffs, imports, and evolving market events.

Plate market participants expect domestic producers to issue a $40-60 per short ton (st) price increase.

US rebar and wire rod prices rose month on month (m/m) alongside continued scrap increases, while merchant bar and structurals were unchanged.

Sheet market participants said conditions this week were more stable than in past weeks, but they remain cautiously optimistic overall.   

Participants in the hot- and cold-rolled coil markets said winter storms in the East and Midwest may disrupt weekly order volumes and prices.  

SMU polled steel buyers on an array of topics earlier this week, ranging from market prices and demand, to inventories, imports, and evolving market events.

A report on the sheet market this week.

SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices both increased this week to multi-month highs

Rising global capital and power costs, driven by China's production cap and higher-cost expansion in Indonesia, are resetting aluminum's incentive price, making higher LME levels necessary to unlock new primary capacity outside China.

Though they’re hopeful, domestic sheet market sources didn’t share a bullish outlook on the market this week.

Participants in the domestic steel plate market said they are maintaining strong order books, experiencing longer lead times, and finding mills are less open to negotiating prices.

The galvanized steel market has kicked off the year with a firmer tone, marked by rising prices, lengthening lead times, and a noticeable shift in buyer sentiment. Service centers and distributors on HARDI’s latest sheet metal and coil handling council call described a market that is not overheating but steadily tightening.

Steel plate market participants think increasing spot prices and growing order volumes could stick around. That’s two encouraging signs for the year ahead, they said. Oregon Steel Mills, SSAB, and Nucor all increased base prices for plate products by $40 per short ton (st) in the final weeks of December. SMU data also indicates that mills […]

AZZ Inc. posted record sales in its fiscal third quarter, driven by strong hot-dip galvanizing and coil coating demand tied to infrastructure, energy transition, and data center construction.

Demand for heavy steel plate used in offshore wind farms faces renewed uncertainty after President Trump paused leases for five offshore wind projects. 

The number of oil and gas rigs operating in the US ticked higher this week, while Canadian activity tumbled, according to the latest data released from Baker Hughes.

An SMU Community Chat with Timna Tanners.

In this Premium analysis we examine North American oil and natural gas prices, drill rig activity, and crude oil stock levels through December

Earlier this week, SMU polled steel buyers on an array of topics, ranging from market prices, demand, and inventories to tariffs, imports, and evolving market events.