Preliminary Census data shows that total foreign steel imports declined 17% in October to 2.71 million net tons, easing from September’s 28-month high of 3.26 million tons. November import licenses are currently at 2.55 million tons, a 6% decline from October and down 22% compared to September. Total finished imports are preliminarily at 2.33 million tons in […]
A long-running legal fight over whether former President Donald Trump had legal authority to double Turkey’s Section 232 steel tariff to 50% might be headed to the Supreme Court. Attorneys representing a Turkish mill and consumers of Turkish steel last month filed a request – also known as a “writ of certiorari” – asking the […]
Steel prices declined for the third consecutive month in November, following a 12-month streak of continuous price increases. Hot-rolled coil prices declined $105 per ton throughout the month, with the SMU index averaging $1,770 per ton ($88.50 per cwt) as of Tuesday, Nov. 30. The SMU Price Momentum Indicator for hot-rolled coil was adjusted from Neutral […]
U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) grew at a modest 2.1% annual rate in the third quarter, the slowest pace in more than a year, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). U.S. third-quarter economic growth was slowed by the Delta variant’s disruptions to consumer spending and global supply chains. The second review by the BEA […]
Sometimes it is the little things that provide hints as to the direction steel prices will take. During our Steel 101 workshops, I use the example of when you hear from that steel salesman on what seems like a daily basis – that’s when you know a market is about to turn (or has turned). […]
Sometimes it is the little things that provide hints as to the direction steel prices will take. During our Steel 101 workshops, I use the example of when you hear from that steel salesman on what seems like a daily basis – that’s when you know a market is about to turn (or has turned). […]
Coming off a year of strong growth, Reibus is looking to 2022 with guarded optimism. John Armstrong, president and CEO of the Atlanta-based online marketplace, anticipates more volatility ahead for the metals market. “We have budgeted for a 25% decrease in steel prices next year. That is our forecast, and we have built our business […]
With steel prices trending downward as 2021 comes to a close, there is a different tone to annual contract negotiations, respondents to Steel Market Update’s market trends questionnaire said. Talks are more contentious, reported many buyers, as mills seek to lock in volume near current prices for 2022, while service centers and OEMs are reluctant to […]
Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) has filed a duty circumvention case against coated flat-rolled steel from Vietnam made from Japanese substrate. The Fort Wayne, Ind.-based steelmaker thinks that “minor alterations” such as coating represent an attempt to circumvent existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders on hot-rolled and cold-rolled coil from Japan. The U.S. Commerce Department has […]
Steel Buyers Sentiment saw a notable dip this week, as did steel prices. Industry sentiment tends to track with steel price tags – the stronger the prices, the more optimistic service center and OEM executives who respond to SMU’s surveys. While sentiment remains near record levels, the downtrend suggests optimism, like prices, may have peaked. SMU […]
Spot prices might be wobbling. But mill balance sheets are as strong as they’ve ever been – and the cash will continue to pour in as 2022 contracts reset at substantially higher numbers. Here are two opposing trends I’m keeping an eye on: (1) whether mills will use their cash hoards to expand outside of steel […]
At the direction of the U.S. International Trade Commission, the U.S. Commerce Department will continue to investigate oil country tubular goods (OCTG) imports from Argentina, Mexico and Russia that are allegedly being subsidized and dumped in the U.S. at below fair value. In a Nov. 19 vote, the USITC ruled there is reasonable indication that […]
With 2022 right around the corner, it’s time to reflect back on an unusual and eventful year for the steel industry. Following is Steel Market Update’s Top 10 News Events of 2021: #10 – Economy Rebounds from COVID: No one could have predicted when the virus crippled commerce in the spring of 2020 that the […]
Editor’s note: SMU contributor Bryan Tice is a partner at Metal Edge Partners, a firm engaged in Risk Management and Strategic Advisory. In this role, he and the firm design and execute risk management strategies for clients along with providing process and analytical support. Before joining Metal Edge Partners, Bryan held a variety of commercial […]
By CRU Senior Prices Analyst Estelle Tran, from CRU’s Global Steel Trade Service, Nov. 18 In the last several weeks, U.S. sheet prices have started to decline, though prices remain well above global prices. Under pressure from imports and service centers eager to sell high-cost inventory before the end of the year, prices for processed […]
By CRU Principal Analyst Matthew Watkins, from CRU’s Global Steel Trade Service, Nov. 18 There was a big price collapse in China over the past month. HR coil export prices have fallen by 13% since October and rebar is down by 10% in the same period. For HR coil, this means that China has returned […]
With relatively few exceptions, buyers tell Steel Market Update they sense the market is changing, and they expect steel prices to continue falling – though most expect the declines to be gradual. Their views are likely informed by price trends to date, which have been incremental, at least so far. The average price of hot rolled […]
The Oct. 31 agreement between the U.S. and the EU to replace Section 232 with a tariff-rate quota (TRQ) will likely serve as a model for similar trade deals with other countries that are chafing under the Trump-era tariff, said veteran Washington trade attorney Lewis Leibowitz during Wednesday’s SMU Community Chat. The Biden administration began […]
By CRU Senior Analyst Thais Terzian and Analyst Chris Bandmann, from CRU’s Crude Steel Market Outlet, Nov. 15 There is currently a lot of market discussion that the EU may act to restrict scrap exports. Here we look at who could be hurt and who might see opportunities. Other regions have already acted to protect […]
Hot-rolled coil prices continue to slide. And galvanized base prices are holding more or less steady. What gives? Check out the slide below. The green line is galvanized base prices. The blue line is lead times. Prices are on the left-hand side of the slide. Lead times are on the right. Prices have been around […]
Imports of less-expensive sheet and plate products have been on the rise for the past five months as buyers continue to seek relief from record-high steel prices in the U.S. September Commerce Department data show imports’ share of the U.S. flat-products markets at their highest levels in the past 4-5 years. Imports’ share of total […]
Total mill shipments of steel products fell 12.2% in September to 8.502 million tons, after seeing an 11.1% increase the month prior. Apparent supply also slipped in September, down 6.9%, following a 7.9% increase in August. September’s contractions mark the first decrease in steel supply in seven months. This analysis is based on steel mill shipment […]
By Trade Attorney Lewis Leibowitz Last Wednesday, it was my pleasure to join many readers on the latest Steel Market Update Community Chat. After a brief rundown of current issues affecting the steel sector and its customers, we had a lively round of questions, refereed by SMU Senior Editor Michael Cowden. We didn’t get to […]
By Greg Wittbecker, Advisor, CRU Group Quotas in exchange for exemption, a bad precedent for other countries There has been much written about the new détente between the EU27 and the USA in the aftermath of the deal to suspend duties on European steel and aluminum. There are also reports that something may also be […]
September apparent steel supply increased by 90,000 tons over August to 9.92 million net tons, according to the latest U.S. Department of Commerce and American Iron and Steel Institute data. This is the highest supply level seen in more than six years, going back to January 2015 when supply surpassed 10 million tons. September supply is up […]
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 Spot HR has declined each of the last three Wednesday’s for a total loss of $86/ST. Spot HR has lost […]
Steel Market Update’s price range for plate products raised a few eyebrows this week. Allow me to point out a few facts about SMU pricing data. SMU provides a weekly range as reference points for you to review. The reference points come from steel buyers and from steel mills. However, we place the most emphasis on […]
By CRU Principal Analyst Josh Spoores, from CRU’s Steel Sheet Products Monitor, Nov. 10 Global sheet prices have continued to fall, though declines have not been consistent across all regions. Overall, CRU’s Global Flat Products Steel Price Indicator (CRUspi flats) fell for the second consecutive month, declining by 2.9% and is now at its lowest […]
Even as domestic prices ease, foreign steel imports continue to tempt U.S. buyers with potential discounts of 24-43%, according to Steel Market Update’s latest comparison of domestic and foreign hot rolled steel prices. Foreign hot rolled steel prices are now theoretically $452-801 per ton cheaper than domestic steel, after taking freight costs, trader margins and tariffs […]
Steel buyers are “confused” as are some traders as to what deals are being offered into the hot rolled market right now. Steel Market Update has been advised by a couple of large HRC buyers of offers below $1,600 per ton ($80.00/cwt), while at the same time we have spoken to buyers who continue to […]