Depending on when you read this, you might know who won the Super Bowl, but we know who won this week—Joe Biden. President Biden gave an effective State of the Union on Tuesday. The speech had everything his (and Bernie Sanders’) supporters could hope for: more Buy American, more equality, more populism, even more support […]
The Covid-19-related shutdowns and subsequent supply chain disruptions emphasized the importance of onshoring. Geopolitical uncertainty, the war in Ukraine, and recent sovereign security issues, have added to global supply chain concerns. In the US, new legislation, the IRA, USMCA, and Build Back Better have focused on securing and bolstering North American manufacturing conditions. The task […]
Felman Production said it has signed a five-year agreement to sell ferro-silicomanganese to a multi-billion-dollar publicly traded steel and metal manufacturer based in the US. The deal is for is for 42,000 metric tons per year, a company spokesperson told SMU. They declined to name the company. “We’re thrilled about this deal because it will greatly benefit […]
I am writing these Final Thoughts from an exhibition hall at Tampa Marriot Water Street hotel, where we just wrapped up the Tampa Steel Conference. The table I’m writing from is about to be taken down and packed up, and I have to get to the airport soon – so forgive me for what tonight […]
Tenaris SA said Feb. 5 that Benteler North America Corp. has terminated the sale of Benteler Steel & Tube Manufacturing Corp. to Tenaris, effective immediately. Luxembourg-based Tenaris had announced in July the intended acquisition of the steel pipe producer in a deal valued at $460 million. By Ethan Bernard, ethan@steelmarketupdate.com
The US long products market was largely stable this month, as end-use demand remained subdued, and buyers continued to work through inventories. Scrap prices rose in January, fuelling bullish sentiments, but sluggish activity limited any expansion in margins. As a result, rebar, merchant bar, and structurals were all flat month-on-month (MoM). Wire rod prices decreased […]
Now that the new year is one-twelfth over, the changes from last year are taking shape. In foreign policy and trade, a primary focus has changed from economics to geopolitics. Trade between the West and China, which has been the key metric for the last 20 years, has tapered off, although it remains strong. Trade […]
It’s always interesting to take a peek behind the curtain. For Michael Cowden, managing editor of Steel Market Update (Hey, that’s us!), it’s a common experience. As a seasoned journalist, Michael is no stranger to asking the tough questions. Multiple times a year he moderates panel discussions, live interviews, hosts workshops, and speaks at various industry functions. […]
US manufacturing activity retreated in January, the third consecutive monthly decline, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). The Manufacturing PMI fell to 47.4% in the first month of 2023, the lowest level since May 2020, when it registered a seasonally adjusted 43.5%, ISM said. Any reading below 50% indicates the manufacturing sector is generally contracting. […]
US manufacturing activity slipped in February for the fourth consecutive month, although the pace of contraction slowed, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). The February Manufacturing PMI stood at 47.7%, 0.3 percentage point higher than January. But while that headline figure rose, recall that any reading below 50% indicates that the manufacturing sector in general […]
North American Stainless (NAS) has announced a $244-million expansion at its Ghent, Ky., facility. The stainless steel producer said the expansion will boost its total capacity by 20% to 200,000 tons annually. The project, which will add 70 new jobs to the plant, was prompted by increased customer demand for stainless products. “We are proud […]
Boston Metal has announced $120 million in funding for its effort to fully decarbonize steel production. The Woburn, Mass.-based company said the first close of Series C fundraising was led by an investment from international steelmaker ArcelorMittal. Other investors include Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund and SiteGround Capital. “In Boston Metal, we are investing in a […]
Steel Dynamic Inc.’s new sheet mill in Sinton, Texas, should become profitable in 2023 after costing the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based steelmaker more than $400 million in 2022, company executives said. The shift should come thanks to increased shipments, lower raw material costs, and a lack of import competition from Mexico stemming from production issues at […]
Nucor Corp.’s fourth-quarter net earnings slid 44% from a year ago, but the company still reported the most profitable year in its history. The Charlotte, N.C.-based steelmaker posted net earnings of $1.26 billion in the quarter ended Dec. 31 vs. $2.25 billion in the same quarter of 2021 on net sales that dropped 16% to […]
We’re less than two weeks away from the Tampa Steel Conference. It’s not too late to register, but you should do it ASAP. The event will be at the Tampa Marriott Water Street hotel on Sunday-Tuesday Feb. 5-7. Approximately 445 people have already registered, which is more than total attendance last year. New companies are being added […]
Demand for galvanized sheet is stable, according to members of the Heating, Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) Sheet Metal/Air Handling Council. A few high points from this month’s meeting are that prices have climbed for the first time since April, import levels are low, and the spread between hot-rolled (HR) and galvanized material is […]
We’re less than two weeks away from the Tampa Steel Conference. It’s not too late to register, but you should do it ASAP. The event will be at the Tampa Marriott Water Street hotel on Sunday-Tuesday Feb. 5-7. Approximately 430 people have already registered, which is more than total attendace last year. We expect that number to […]
Editor’s note: SMU Contributor Michael D’Angelo is a researcher and trader at Marex. In his role, Mike performs fundamental and quantitative analysis, which directly leads to actionable trading/risk management strategies across the base, precious, and ferrous metals derivative spaces. Prior to joining Marex, Mike received a BA in economics with a minor in finance from […]
Mill Steel Co. has acquired Cleveland Metal Exchange (CME) and Chicago Stainless Metal Exchange. A full line of stainless steel and aluminum products is now available through the Mill Steel Stainless and Aluminum division led by former CME CEO, Randy Horvat, and president, Jeff Haas. “We are thrilled to be entering the stainless and aluminum […]
Business activity in the state of New York fell in January, reaching its lowest level since the early days of the pandemic, according to data from the Empire State Manufacturing Survey. The New York Fed’s Empire State headline general business conditions index — a gauge of manufacturing activity in the state — plunged from -11.2 […]
Two Democratic senators have asked that imports of downstream grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES) products be hit with Section 232 national security tariffs. Senators Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) and Bob Casey (D., Pa.) sent a letter to the US Commerce Department on Jan. 12 to address this issue. Section 232 tariffs of 25% on imported steel were […]
The Great Lakes Clean Hydrogen Coalition (GLCH), which includes steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs, has been given green light to proceed with its full hydrogen hub application. GLCH has proposed to develop low-carbon hydrogen via electrolysis at the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station in Oak Harbor, Ohio, the coalition said. Hydrogen would then be distributed across the Great Lakes region by pipeline and […]
We’re less than one month away from the Tampa Steel Conference. The event will be at the Tampa Marriott Water Street hotel again, so mark your calendar for Sunday-Tuesday, Feb. 5-7. There are nearly 375 attendees registered, and the list is growing daily. Keep in mind that this is the high season for tourism in Florida, and […]
Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. posted a net loss in its first quarter of fiscal 2023 on lower demand and lower average selling prices for recycled metals and finished steel products. The Portland, Ore.-based scrap recycler and long steel producer recorded a net loss of $18 million in its fiscal Q1 ended Nov. 30, 2022. That’s […]
US manufacturing activity slipped in December, for the second consecutive month, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). The ISM’s December manufacturing PMI remains below the neutral 50.0 mark — the level typically dividing expansion from contraction. On the heels of a 29-month period of growth, this is now the lowest level since May […]
The new year is off to a great start, and there’s still time to register for the Tampa Steel Conference as you make your travel plans for 2023. The event will be at the Tampa Marriott Water Street hotel again, so mark your calendar for Sunday-Tuesday, Feb. 5-7. Nearly 300 of you have registered already. We’re on track […]
The year-end market close was quiet this time around when it came to the newswire, but Nucor’s status update on its ultramodern $1.7-billion steel plate mill in Brandenburg, Ky., was the big news we all saw this morning after the holiday break. After rolling its first steel plate on Dec. 30 – an important step […]
Nucor Corp. rolled its first steel plate at its new $1.7-billion plate mill in Brandenburg, Ky., on Dec. 30, the company said in a statement on Tuesday, Jan. 3. The Charlotte, N.C.-based steelmaker confirmed final commissioning and first customer shipments from the mill are expected in the first quarter of 2023. “Congratulations to our more than […]
US Steel has announced the appointment of two new senior vice presidents. Christian Gianni has been named senior vice president and chief technology officer, and John Gordon has been named senior vice president of raw materials and sustainable resources. Gianni comes to US Steel from Deka Research and Development Corp., where he served as the executive […]
New orders for US-manufactured durable goods fell in November to a seasonally adjusted $270.6 billion, according to the US Census Bureau. Last month’s downward move was the first decline in four months, and well below consensus estimates. Shipments were again slightly higher month over month (MoM), moving higher for 18 of the last 19 months despite […]