Tag: Imports

Cold-rolled (CR) coil prices ticked up in the US this week, as offshore prices mostly trended lower.

South Korea has overtaken Canada as the top foreign supplier of steel to the US market.

Hot-rolled coil market participants report little disruption to their contact volumes, finding timely spot HR proved less straightforward, some sources told SMU. 

The US HRC futures curve has continued to move higher, particularly in the deferred months, suggesting the market is pricing a slower return to balance.

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

SMU’s average price for domestic HR was $1,130 per short ton (st) this week, $15/st higher week over week (w/w). In offshore markets last week, prices were largely down, following a trend seen since late April.

May was the fifth consecutive month of expansion for the US manufacturing sector, according to the most recent Institute for Supply Management (ISM) report.

SMU released May service center inventories on Monday. And if you’re a premium subscriber, I recommend reading the report (here) if you haven’t already.

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.

The Trump tariffs have driven the mundane world of traditional “trade remedies” off the front pages. But antidumping and countervailing duty measures are still with us, and new cases are on the upswing lately.

After reaching historic lows late last year, import volumes have increased each month of 2026, according to recently released US Commerce Department data.

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

A major trade case finalized late last year, along with higher Section 232 tariffs, account for the reduced imports.

The United States has repeatedly called for stronger action to protect North American manufacturing. Canadian steel agrees. We are ready to do the work necessary. Now Washington must remove the tariffs that stand in the way.

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

The price gap between US hot-rolled coil (HR) and landed offshore product continues to narrow, as stateside prices are now, on average, carrying a premium over imports. Domestic tags are still outpacing imported hot band as pricing dynamics diverge.

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.

Two countries have ramped up slab exports to the US in the wake of declining tonnages from other major suppliers, despite overall slab imports falling by nearly a third from last year.

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.

The next few months are poised to be momentous for US trade and tariff policy. Of note, the United States, Mexico, and Canada are beginning the six-year review of the US-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA).

The Association of Cold Rolled Specialty Steel (ACRSS) officially responds to the formal investigation Mexico opened into cold-rolled steel imports from the US

The price gap between US hot-rolled coil (HR) and landed offshore product continues to narrow toward parity.

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

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.’ 

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

US steel buyers report firmer domestic demand, but long lead times, rising freight costs, and geopolitical uncertainty continue to cause caution on imports.

Steel imports could become even more prohibitive, facing even higher tariffs, pending the outcome of the Trump administration’s Section 301 investigation.

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

US domestic steel prices continued to increase for most products as demand remained resilient amid tight supply. Domestic sheet and plate prices increased over the past month, while long products prices were mostly stable, with only structural and merchant bar prices edging up higher.

Trading-company sentiment in the May 15 SMU flat-rolled steel buyers survey shows a market split between anecdotal optimism and numerical decline.