Tag: demand

SMU’s Mill Order Index recovered in May, reclaiming some momentum lost the month prior.

Spot market participants recently told SMU they foresee additional plate price rises for domestically made products.

Sheet prices in the USA continued to move higher over the past month as supply remained tight in the country

SMU’s latest steel buyers market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members.

The World Cup only comes around every four years. So let's take a walk down memory lane to see where the steel market stood four years ago.

Some domestic spot market buyers say they're seeking imported hot-rolled (HR) coils.

Has anyone seen a creature called the “spot ton” in the wild? I ask because they used to be a common sight. And now I hear they’re endangered.

Most companies making steel are making a lot money. And they will continue to as current high prices flow into contracts in Q3. I don’t want to kill the vibe. (No one likes that guy.) But let’s put on your risk-manager cap for a second and imagine what might keep everything from moving up and to the right indefinitely.

Global output will remain broadly flat this year, with further downgrades in Europe due to ongoing costs, regulatory, and competitive pressures, as well as a weaker economic outlook and rising inflationary pressures.

Steel market chatter this week: Buyers predict prices to continue rising from here, report steady to improving demand, and most see tariffs as unhelpful.

Participants in the plate market doubt prices, lead times, and demand forces will cool down any time soon.

Market participants report frustration with extending lead times for domestically produced plate products.  

AMU's May aluminum market survey showed lengthier rolled product lead times coupled with shrinking extrusion and primary booking windows, though inventory building and forward demand sentiment remained cautious.

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.

Galvanized steel buyers and distributors expect tightening supply and rising price pressure to last into summer.

SMU’s latest steel buyers market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members.

Plate market participants wonder how plate supply will hold up in coming weeks and months, sources told SMU.   Some sources called out dwindling availability of heavier grades and said certain domestic producers have “a huge backlog.” of all grades.

Sheet market participants found modest spot price increases this past week, but conceded that overall market conditions remained stable.  

Ternium expects steel demand in Mexico to keep improving through the second quarter as destocking fades and new industrial policies take hold.

SMU’s Mill Order Index (MOI) recovered in March, gaining some momentum after a marginal decline in February.

I haven’t done a deep dive into our sentiment data for a little while. And it’s timely to do so now. Why? Because we’re seeing what I’ll call the inverted yield curve of steel buyers’ sentiment.

SMU’s latest steel buyers market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members.

Steel buyers remain highly optimistic about their businesses’ chances of success today and in the near future, according to SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices.

Market sources say 2026 could be a stronger year for plate market participants than 2025 if this week’s conditions are indicative of how the rest of the year plays out.  

Last week, Steel Market Update and CRU hosted our inaugural VIP Briefing in Chicago ahead of the Scouting America Metals Industry Dinner.

Nucor executives said US steel demand remains stable, with pockets of strength in data centers, energy, border fence work, and infrastructure.

Recent conversations with plate market participants across the US revealed a wide range of experiences contingent on a variety of factors.  

Sheet market participants reported steady to elevated demand over the past week. But while spot prices continued to edge up, some sources said lead times were becoming more closely aligned to industry norms.

According to the latest findings from SMU’s survey, more respondents answered that President Trump’s tariff policies have been helpful to their businesses than in the prior survey. 

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. reported improving supply-demand fundamentals in the first quarter and expects stronger conditions through the rest of 2026.