Tag: Exports

The situation in Turkey for procuring ferrous scrap for its steel industry is facing some difficult times. As obsolescent scrap flows start to abate in Northern Europe and the US with the onset of the winter and the holiday season, the price of buying scrap for this period is trending upward. The domestic market in the US is expected to rise in November, possibly in December, and definitely in January as the US melt rate shows no signs of lessening. In Europe, the main problem is supply as the Turkish mills have leaned on this region heavily over the last two months rather than sourcing enough higher priced US cargoes. The European suppliers can only sell what is convenient at this point without an increase in price.

The volume of finished steel that entered the US market increased 1% from July to August to the second-highest monthly level recorded in the past four years, according to SMU’s analysis of recently released Department of Commerce and American Iron and Steel Institute data. Apparent steel supply is calculated by combining domestic mill shipments and finished US steel imports, then subtracting total US exports. It can be used as a proxy for domestic steel demand. Supply has remained historically strong since May, when it surpassed the 9 million st mark it had previously been beneath for four years.

US steel exports fell 3% from July to August, continuing the decline from June’s 17-month high, according to recently released US Department of Commerce figures. Exports have been historically low for over a year and remain weak in comparison to volumes seen across 2022-2024. August trade was down 2% compared to the same month of 2025, 25% lower than August 2024, 29% lower than August 2023, and 21% lower than August 2022.

There has been sustained export activity from the US on both the East and West Coasts. Prices have continued to rise, influenced by several factors, including elevated freight costs and firming markets in exporting countries.  

Apparent steel supply eased 2% from June to July but remained at one of the higher levels recorded in recent years, according to SMU’s analysis of recently released Department of Commerce and American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) data. This measure is calculated by combining domestic mill shipments and finished US steel imports, then subtracting total US exports. It can also be used as a proxy for domestic steel demand.

Following the 17-month high set in June, US steel exports receded 8% in July, according to recently released US Department of Commerce figures. Trade has been historically low for over a year and remains weak compared to 2022-2024 volumes.

The prices for export scrap from the US East Coast jumped by $5 per metric ton (mt) on recent sales.

Rather than recruiting other countries to help, the US appears intent on threatening to punish countries, including its closest friends. In my experience, this strategy has never proved productive. 

The export markets on both coasts have not changed very much over this last week.

Apparent steel supply rose 3% from May to June to the highest rate recorded in over four years, according to recent Department of Commerce and American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) figures. June’s supply increased to 9.31 million short tons, driven primarily by higher domestic shipments, and partly offset by lower finished imports and increased exports.

US steel exports recovered 7% in June, marking the highest monthly rate recorded since January 2025. Despite the recoveries seen over the last six months, trade has been historically weak for over a year and remains weak compared to 2022-2024 volumes.

There has been renewed activity in the Turkish deep-sea export arena as buyers continue to fill in their September needs.

This item was first published by CRU. To learn about CRU’s global commodities research and analysis services, visit www.crugroup.com. Chinese steel export prices remained rangebound on persistently weak demand. Indian hot-rolled (HR) coil export prices fell amid elevated freight rates and European caution, while Turkish HR coil export prices came under pressure from EU quota exhaustion.  […]

AMU’s July survey found recyclers expecting lower prices as demand softened, while forward scrap supply views remained mixed.

The export market for scrap for Turkey has come back to life over the last week.

Apparent steel supply jumped 8% from April to May to a near four-year high, according to recent Department of Commerce and American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) figures.

Steel exports eased 1% in May and remain significantly lower than trade of previous years.

Steel export prices will remain under downward pressure across most major regions, due to seasonal demand weakness, intensifying competition, and the redirection of trade flows following the EU's revised tariff-rate quota (TRQ) system. 

The scrap export market in both Europe and the US continued to decline after the activity of last week became confirmable.

The export market off the US East Coast has been largely inactive over the last two weeks.

Apparent steel supply eased from March to April on reduced mill shipments per recent Department of Commerce and American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) data.

US steel exports improved 2% from March to April to the highest monthly volume seen in 13 months. Although up, trade remains historically low

The bulk deep-sea export market in the Atlantic Basin has not shown much movement lately. Buyers in Turkey have limited their activity in an attempt to bring prices down in both the US and Northern Europe. However, this does not seem to be working to a significant extent.

Catherine Cobden, President and CEO of the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) called the past year’s 50% tariff imposed on Canada’s steel exports to the US ‘severe and unsustainable.’ 

The export markets are generally showing an increased demand for scrap.

Apparent steel supply surged 11% from February to March, recovering from one of the lower rates recorded in recent years to one of the higher ones.

US steel exports improved in March but remain historically low, having trended lower for over a year now.  

The ferrous scrap export market from the US has been poised to rise further amid reluctance of their Turkish customers to increase prices beyond the recent bullish prices they paid earlier this month.

Apparent steel supply declined 3% from January to February to the third-lowest rate recorded in the past two years, just 5% above the near-five-year low set last November.

US steel exports held steady from January to February and remain near historical lows.