The spread between hot-rolled coil (HRC) and prime scrap prices continues to narrow, according to Steel Market Update data. Busheling scrap prices have declined each of the last four months, as have hot-rolled prices – but at a greater rate than scrap. The result: a shrinking delta between the two products. The latest spread is one-third what […]
Steel Market Update is pleased to share this new Premium content – an index comparing lead time and demand data – with Executive members. For information on upgrading to a Premium-level subscription, email Info@SteelMarketUpdate.com. Apparent demand for flat-rolled steel in the US turned in our early August reading, though it’s too early to note if […]
Imported sheet and plate products arrived at US ports at a higher clip in June, resulting in them accounting for a larger share of the domestic market, according to US Commerce Department data. Imports’ share of US sheet and plate markets peaked in December, with sheet reaching its highest level in the past 4.5 years. The trend […]
Total mill shipments of steel products shrank in June, after gaining ground the month before. June’s mill shipments totaled 8.09 million tons, a 3.5% decline from May’s 8.38 million tons. Apparent supply also declined in June, down 2.8% versus the prior month. This analysis is based on steel mill shipment data from the American Iron and Steel […]
Canadian steelmaker ArcelorMittal Dofasco aims to increase spot market base prices for steel sheet by at least $65 per ton CAD (~$50 per ton USD). The Hamilton, Ontario-based company said the price hike was effective immediately and applied equally to hot-rolled, cold-rolled and coated products. “We reserve the right to re-quote any previously quoted offer […]
US plate prices edged down again this week after seeing their largest decline in nearly five years the week prior. The latest declines are not exactly a surprise given plate prices had been holding an unsustainable premium over coil and buying has been largely hand-to-mouth. But the straw that broke the camel’s back might just […]
The temptation to purchase foreign hot-rolled coil (HRC) at a bargain remains low, with adjusted foreign prices now within $40 per ton of domestic steel, according to Steel Market Update’s latest analysis. For the past three months, the potential discount on imported products has been shrinking. After taking freight costs, trader margins and tariffs into […]
Stelco Holdings Inc. reported stellar second quarter earnings but warned that the second half of the year won’t be nearly as bright. The Canadian flat-rolled steelmaker pinned the dreary outlook on falling steel prices, lackluster demand, and rising costs for natural gas, coal and alloys. “We are faced now with even stronger headwinds, including the […]
A fire at one of Algoma Steel’s coal conveyors is not affecting iron and steelmaking operations at the company’s mill in Sault St. Marie, Ontario. But coke production will be reduced while the damage is repaired. The fire occurred on Aug. 7, 2022, on one of the conveyors that supplies coal to two of Algoma’s […]
SMU’s benchmark hot-rolled coil price inched upward for the first time since mid-April, nearly four months ago. The modest gain came even as cold-rolled and coated prices continued to see significant declines. Plate prices were roughly flat. By the numbers: Our average hot-rolled coil price now stands at $820 per ton ($41 per cwt), up […]
Algoma’s plate mill is up and running following the first phase of a modernization project that was completed in June. The second phase of the expansion, initially expected to be finished by November 2022, has been moved to June 2023, a company spokeswoman told SMU on Tuesday, Aug. 9. The reason: “to support our customers […]
Nucor Corp. aims to increase base prices for steel sheet by at least $50 per ton ($2.50 per cwt). The price hike is effectively immediately and applies to all new orders, the Charlotte, N.C.-based steelmaker said in letters to customers dated Monday, Aug. 8. “We reserve the right to review and re-quote any offers that […]
I mentioned in my last Final Thoughts that I’d been surprised to see hot-rolled coil lead times inch up, even if only modestly so. I cautioned at the time not to make too much of just one data point or to call a trend based on just one survey. That big caveat aside, as we […]
The United Steelworkers (USW) local chapter representing Stelco’s steelmaking operations will be in a legal position to strike as of 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 22. That’s according to a negotiation update sent to members of Local 8782, which represents the Canadian flat-rolled steelmaker’s Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke, Ontario. The union said it had […]
The appeal to purchase foreign hot-rolled coil (HRC) further faded this week, with foreign prices now in close quarters to domestic steel, according to Steel Market Update’s latest analysis. Since mid-May, US steel prices have generally declined at a faster rate than foreign prices, meaning the potential discount on imported products has been shrinking for […]
Ternium executives provided an update on the company’s new Pesquería hot strip mill and plans for a greenfield electric-arc furnace in North America on the company’s second quarter earnings conference call on Wednesday, August 3. Weak demand and falling prices are impacting the company, but it remains positive on its plans moving forward. Updates on […]
Sheet prices continued to move lower this week, and plate joined the downward trend following a price decrease announced last week by Nucor Corp. Hot-rolled coil prices now have a tenuous grasp on $800 per ton ($40 per cwt). SMU’s average HRC price stands at $805 per ton, down $35 per ton from last week […]
A local USW chapter representing Stelco Inc.’s Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke, Ontario, has rejected a tentative labor agreement with the Canadian flat-rolled steelmaker. USW Local 8782 said 52% of its members voted to reject a proposed new labor contract. USW Local 8782-08, responsible for Stelco’s pickling operations, narrowly approved a new deal. One member […]
The following article on the hot-rolled coil (HRC), scrap and financial futures markets was written by Jack Marshall of Crunch Risk LLC. Here is how Jack saw trading over the past week: Hot Rolled The HR futures market has been somewhat subdued this month, which is reflected in the price changes for July. Over the […]
Foreign hot-rolled steel imports have all but lost their appeal this week and are now at levels comparable to domestic steel prices, according to Steel Market Update’s latest analysis. Since mid May, US steel prices have generally declined at a faster rate than foreign prices, meaning the potential discount on imported products has been shrinking […]
Though steel prices might down from the historic highs of 2021, Reliance Steel and Aluminum sees its diverse product portfolio and end markets as a buffer, executives said during an earnings call with analysts on Thursday, July 28. “Our product breadth is so diverse, which is part of the strategy and design,” company president Karla […]
Nucor is significantly lowering plate prices with the opening of its September plate order book. Discrete plate prices as well as prices for normalized plate will be $120 per ton ($6 per cwt) lower. Prices for cut-to-length plate 84-inches wide will be $80 per ton ($4 per cwt) lower. All published adders and extras will […]
We’ve updated our prices, and it’s another week of declines for hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and galvanized flat-rolled steel. That’s not new. But this might be: Hot-rolled prices had been falling at a modestly faster pace than galvanized prices base prices. That was not the case this week. HR is down $35 per ton ($1.75 per cwt) […]
Prices for hot-rolled, cold-rolled and galvanized flat-rolled steel fell again this week with little signs of a near-term bottom. Hot-rolled prices fells into the low $800s per ton ($40s per cwt). Cold-rolled and galvanized base prices, meanwhile, fell into the $1,200s per ton ($60s per cwt) for the first time since mid-March. Spreads between highs […]
Austal USA has been contracted to build two more towing, salvage, and rescue ships (T-ATS) for the US Navy. The latest contract for the Mobile, Ala.-based shipbuilder, valued at $156 million, is in addition to two other T-ATS contracts awarded to the company last year. The T-ATSs support the Navy fleet operations with ocean-going tug, […]
Stelco Holdings Inc. expects its second quarter earnings results to be notably higher sequentially and year-on-year but is warning that a weakening steel market will mean lower results for the second half of the year. In a preliminary earnings report, the Canadian flatrolled steelmaker said it expects its Q2 adjusted EBITDA to be Candian $460-470 […]
Steel Market Update is pleased to share this new Premium content – an index comparing lead time and demand data – with Executive members. For information on upgrading to a Premium-level subscription, email Info@SteelMarketUpdate.com. Apparent demand for flat-rolled steel in the US remains on a downward trend – as it has been since late April, […]
Producer prices rose moderately in June, maintaining a sustained 27-month growth run. Last month the headline index grew by just 3.3%, seasonally adjusted, but was up 23.4% compared to the same year-ago period, the US Labor Department reported. The wholesale level was hit hard by inflation as well in June. The producer price index (PPI), […]
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. saw strong profit in the second quarter and double free cash flow versus the prior quarter while predicting that even better days were ahead thanks to fixed-price contracts resetting at higher numbers. That projection comes largely because automakers, which typically buy steel on contract terms, are seeing backlogs grow because of supply chain […]
We were close to peak steel prices this time a year ago. Are we now close to peak pessimism? Your answer to that question might depend on whether you’re working at a steel mill or at a service center. We’ve noticed a big split in sentiment lately. Roughly 40% of respondents to our surveys – […]