The US manufacturing sector looks to have contracted for another month, albeit at a slightly slower pace than in March, according to the latest monthly report on business from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). The ISM’s manufacturing PMI came in at 47.1% in April. Although 0.8 percentage points higher than the previous month, the […]
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan recently gave an important speech on the direction of trade policy. It was not his speech alone, but part of a coordinated roll-out of the Biden administration on trade policy, including contributions from President Biden, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. It’s worth looking at […]
Mexico is benefiting from the trend of the reshoring of manufacturing as companies work to secure reliable supply chains and be closer to their end markets. As a result, Ternium’s Mexican operations are seeing increasing shipments and market share. Company executives discussed this and other topics on the company’s first-quarter earnings conference call on Wednesday, […]
The prime scrap and metallic shortage in the US will continue over the next few years, according to Cleveland-Cliffs’ top executive. “Our conviction that this country’s prime scrap and metallic shortage will continue to tighten over the coming years is at the core of our strategy,” Cliffs’ chairman, president, and CEO Lourenco Goncalves said during […]
As you make your travel plans for this summer, don’t forget about this year’s Steel Summit Conference in Atlanta. The event will again be held at the Georgia International Convention Center, a world-class conference facility adjacent to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport—think low airfares and easy access. So mark your calendar for Monday-Wednesday, Aug. 21-23. The […]
The United States and European Union are quarrelling about several trade issues. None is more far-reaching than the trade impact of measures to address climate change. While some still doubt the need or ability of the world’s nations to tax or subsidize their way out of human-caused global warming, governments, at least in Europe and […]
Despite high interest rates dampening demand, strength in manufacturing across the globe will drive a rebound in steel demand this year, the World Steel Association (worldsteel) said in its April 2023 Short Range Outlook. “In 2022, recovery momentum after the pandemic shock was hampered by high inflation and increasing interest rates, the Russian invasion of […]
Flat Rolled = 52.7 Shipping Days of Supply Plate = 41.0 Shipping Days of Supply Flat Rolled US service center flat-rolled steel inventories rose in March with a slowing daily shipping rate. At the end of March, service centers carried 52.7 shipping days of flat-rolled steel supply, according to SMU data, compared to 52.2 shipping […]
Manufacturing business activity increased for the first time in New York state in five months, according to the latest Empire State Manufacturing Survey taken between April 3-10. The New York Fed’s Empire state headline general business conditions index jumped 35 points month-over-month to 10.8, as new orders and shipments rose as well. The survey’s new orders […]
Not since World War II has North America been at the center of a metals manufacturing investment boom. Three new aluminum rolling mills are coming up out of the ground as testament to over $6 billion in new investments to secure domestic aluminum supply. It has been over 80 years since the last metals manufacturing […]
Turkish pipe and tube maker Borusan Mannesmann has finalized its buy of Panama City, Fla.-based Berg Pipe for $162 million. Borusan said it has acquired 100% of the US pipe maker, which manufactures large-diameter line pipe. “By acquiring Berg Pipe, a company with a total manufacturing capacity of 550,000 tons, we have secured a strategic […]
Despite economic headwinds on the horizon, we are probably in store for a “shallow recession” rather than a prolonged one, according to Josh Spoores, CRU’s principal analyst – steel. Spoores sat down with SMU managing editor Michael Cowden on an April 5 Community Chat where they spoke about the outlook for the steel industry for the […]
SMU polled steel buyers on a variety of subjects on Monday and Tuesday of this week, including current and future steel prices, inventory strategies, supply, demand, and new mill capacity. Rather than summarizing the comments we received, we are sharing some of them in each buyer’s own words. We want to hear your thoughts, too! Contact david@steelmarketupdate.com to […]
A plume of orange smoke was reported over the weekend at US Steel’s Gary Works in Indiana, according to the Times of Northwest Indiana (NWI). The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is investigating the incident, according to NWI. No production issues were associated with the situation, a spokesperson for the Pittsburgh-based steelmaker told SMU. “We are […]
Last week, Timothy Brightbill, partner and co-chair of the International Trade Practice at the Washington, DC-based law firm Wiley Rein LLP, sat down with SMU to discuss the recent court decision sustaining Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods, as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine. Earlier this month, the US Court of International Trade […]
Manufacturing activity in the US continued to slow during the month of March, as did general economic activity, according to the latest Manufacturing Report on Business from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). The ISM’s monthly PMI index declined for a fifth consecutive month, registering 46.3% in March. This was 1.4 points lower than the […]
A coalition of trade groups is urging President Joe Biden to help with the ongoing West Coast port labor negotiations. Negotiations for a long-term labor agreement between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have been ongoing for more than 10 months […]
A research team at the Missouri University of Science and Technology will be using a $2 million government grant to improve the operating efficiency of electric-arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking. The Missouri S&T research team is being led by Dr. Ronald O’Malley, the F. Kenneth Iverson Endowed Chair of Steelmaking Technologies and director of the Kent D. […]
The outlook for the construction industry is relatively optimistic, despite the uncertain state of the overall economy, according to Ken Simonson, chief economist of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Simonson, who chatted with SMU chief editor Michael Cowden on the March 22 SMU Community Chat, provided the most recent data covering many aspects […]
It’s not always easy to be a market disruptor, but when done right, it’s worth it. Reibus International is one of those companies hoping to bring change, increased efficiencies, and new ways of doing business to an older industry steeped in tradition. SMU sat down this week with John Armstrong, the founder and CEO of […]
It’s not always easy to be a market disruptor, but when done right, it’s worth it. Reibus International is one of those companies hoping to bring change, increased efficiencies, and new ways of doing business to an older industry steeped in tradition. SMU sat down this week with John Armstrong, the founder and CEO of […]
Galvanized sheet continues to experience stable demand but market sentiment is waning, according to members of the Heating, Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) speaking on the March 22 meeting of its Sheet Metal/Air Handling Council. Bullishness has subsided from sentiment in February. With lead times approaching eight weeks, HARDI members are experiencing tighter inventories and delayed […]
The Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA) announced that TimkenSteel has joined the Washington, D.C.-based steel association. Additionally, SMA said Mike Williams, president and CEO of TimkenSteel, has joined SMA’s board of directors. “We look forward to partnering with our fellow SMA member companies to pursue smart policy on trade and regulation while strengthening the American steel […]
More than three-quarters of US metro areas added construction jobs year-over-year (YoY) through January, according to Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) figures. Despite the employment boost, construction firms struggled to find enough qualified workers to hire, the report said. The report cautioned that projects may stall or be canceled altogether if contractors lack an […]
The US International Trade Commission issued a report to Congress last week on the impact of the Section 232 import restrictions on steel and aluminum and the tariffs on imports from China under Section 301. The report catalogued significant injury to downstream industries. Namely, those that use steel or aluminum in manufacturing. The losses were […]
Manufacturing business activity continues to decline in the state of New York, according to the latest Empire State Manufacturing Survey taken between March 2–9. The New York Fed’s Empire state headline general business conditions index—a gauge of manufacturing activity in the state—declined by 19 points to -24.6, with 45% of respondents reporting worsening business conditions […]
Despite a record backlog, Northwest Pipe Co. is experiencing a challenging start to the year, with customer-driven delays and severe weather hampering production at its various facilities. The Vancouver, Wash.-based company noted the challenges as it released its fourth-quarter and full-year 2022 results. Q4 brought higher production tonnages but lower selling prices within Northwest’s engineered steel […]
Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) expects lower first-quarter 2023 earnings on costs related to its Sinton, Texas, flat-roll mill and the continued work-through of higher-priced pig iron purchased in 2022. The Fort Wayne, Ind.-based steelmaker expects Q1 earnings in the range of $3.47 to $3.51 per diluted share. This is down from $3.61 per diluted share […]
US Steel said it will begin closing coke-making batteries 1, 2, and 3 at its Clairton plant outside Pittsburgh later this month. First announced in early 2021, the shutdown will take an estimated six days and is expected to be completed by the end of March, the Pittsburgh-based steelmaker said Tuesday. US Steel noted that […]
The LME aluminium three-month price eased lower again last week and was seen trading Friday at around $2,300 per tonne. Still below the high mark for 2023, recent news from the macroeconomic scene has dampened demand sentiment and prices accordingly. Market participants awaited Jerome Powell’s semi-annual congressional testimony, with Friday’s focus the nonfarm payrolls report. […]