General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Honda and Stellantis have all been forced to temporarily halt production at assembly plants in the U.S. and Canada due to truckers that are blocking critical roadways in protest of COVID vaccine mandates. Detroit-based GM, the largest of the “Big Three” automakers in the U.S., was forced to cancel two production shifts […]
Were it not for persistently strong steel demand, the plunging steel prices would be an unmitigated disaster. About 70% of the service center and manufacturing execs responding to SMU’s survey a week ago described demand for their products as stable. Another 20% even said they see demand improving. Just 10% have registered declines in demand […]
It’s not too late to register for tomorrow’s SMU Comminuty Chat webinar, starting at 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. CT). Majestic Steel USA CEO Todd Leebow will be our featured speaker, and we will discuss the big issues facing service centers in the face of unprecedented price volatility and technical change. Topics will include: How […]
It’s not too late to register for tomorrow’s SMU Community Chat webinar, starting at 11 a.m. ET. Our featured speaker will be Todd Leebow, CEO of Majestic Steel USA. We’ll discuss the big issues facing service centers in the face of unprecedented price volatility and technical change. Topics will include: How are service centers managing inventory at […]
We are but one week away from the start of the 33rd Tampa Steel Conference. When I checked registrations mid-week last week, we were just a few executives short of 400 attendees. I now anticipate we will exceed my original goal of 300-400 attendees, which would make this the best-attended in-person Tampa Steel Conference since […]
House passage of the America COMPETES Act this week proposes greater investment in American manufacturing and scientific research, as well as changes in trade policy to counter China’s growing economic influence around the world. But the measure must still overcome strong partisan opposition to reconcile it with the Senate version before it can become law. […]
The U.S. labor market performed surprisingly well in January, adding 467,000 new jobs in the New Year, well ahead of the expected 150,000. The payroll boost was met by a marginally higher unemployment rate at 4.0%, up from 3.9% in December. The latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that U.S. payrolls […]
Sentiment among purchasing managers surveyed by the Institute for Supply Management remains strongly optimistic despite a small dip in the January Manufacturing PMI to a reading of 57.6%. The index reading above 50% indicates growth in the manufacturing sector for the 20th consecutive month since the COVID-related contraction in April and May 2020. “The U.S. manufacturing […]
Majestic Steel USA CEO Todd Leebow will be the featured speaker on Steel Market Update’s next Community Chat webinar on Wednesday, Feb. 9, at 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. CT). We’ll discuss the big issues facing service centers in the face of unprecedented price volatility and technical change. Topics will include: How are service centers […]
Majestic Steel USA CEO Todd Leebow will be the featured speaker on Steel Market Update’s next Community Chat webinar on Wednesday, Feb. 9, at 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. CT). We’ll discuss the big issues facing service centers in the face of unprecedented price volatility and technical change. Topics will include: How are service centers […]
Majestic Steel USA Inc. has hired Sean Madigan as Vice President of Sales, Manufacturing. Madigan joins Majestic from Nucor, where he served as the Sales and Marketing Manager for Nucor Steel Arkansas. Madigan’s experience with Nucor was integral to the startup of the company’s new coating line, and he will continue to be a critical part of the […]
U.S. construction spending edged up in December, though monthly outlays were down in nearly a dozen nonresidential subcategories. Construction spending rose 0.2% above the upward revised November figure and 9.0% above the same year-ago period, the Commerce Department reported. The Census Bureau’s report on construction shows spending on private construction projects rose 0.7% in December. […]
In two weeks, we will be in Tampa, Fla., to celebrate the 33rd edition of the Tampa Steel Conference. The long-range forecast is for sunny skies and 70-degree temperatures. We expect 400+ steel, manufacturing, mill, trading company, port, and logistics companies at this year’s conference. This will be the highest in-person attended Tampa Steel Conference […]
Steel buyers remain a surprisingly bullish bunch despite rapidly declining steel prices as well as worries about COVID and the broader economy, . Steel Market Update’s survey this week asked service center and manufacturing executives if they are optimistic or pessimistic about their prospects in the first half of 2022. About 64% considered themselves optimists versus […]
Algoma Steel Group Inc. has awarded GE Gas Power (GE) the contract to upgrade its natural gas combined cycle power plant to support the power requirements of the steelmaker’s new electric arc furnace (EAF). The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario-based steelmaker said the upgrade, which includes the installation of two gas turbine packages, is expected to […]
The Ports of Indiana handled more than 11.2 million tons of cargo in 2021, resulting in a 33.6% increase from 2020. Steel and steelmaking materials made up a big chunk of the increase. Major cargo increases last year for the Ports of Indiana overall included a rebound in coal (213%), salt (141%), steel (40%), grain (39%), minerals (23%), oils […]
Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) has closed its acquisition of a 45% stake in New Process Steel LP, a manufacturer and distributor that is also the company’s largest flat-rolled steel customer. The Fort Wayne, Ind.-based steelmaker announced the deal in mid-October. Terms were not disclosed. “This minority equity interest enables us to expand our exposure to […]
The North American operations of Evraz produced 1.88 million metric tons in 2021, an 18.9% improvement over 2020 despite some falloff near the end of the year, the company said in its Jan. 31 trading update. The Russia-based steelmaker reported fourth-quarter 2021 production of 480,000 metric tons in North America, a 2.2% decline from the […]
By Trade Attorney Lewis Leibowitz We are hearing a lot about “managed trade” these days from economists, pundits and politicians. It’s time to step back and think about the pros and cons of that concept. First, we should define the term “managed trade.” Trade is usually conducted between private parties for their mutual gain. Governments […]
The next three months look favorable for metalforming companies, according to the January 2022 Precision Metalforming Business Conditions Report. Only 7% of companies predict a decrease in economic activity during the period, down from 16% in December. The report shows that 37% of metalforming companies anticipate an increase in activity, up from 27% in the […]
Durable goods orders took a slight tumble in December, slipping for the first time in three months and suggesting a pause in capital investment as the fourth quarter ended. The decline in December – down 0.9% versus the prior month – reflected a drop in orders for commercial aircraft (transportation) and communications equipment, compounded by […]
Calling 2021 “the safest and most profitable year in the company’s history,” Nucor executives sounded “a consistent drumbeat on demand” in their outlook for 2022 during their fourth-quarter conference call with analysts and investors today. The Charlotte, N.C.-based steelmaker posted record earnings of $6.83 billion in 2021 on sales of $36.5 billion. Sixteen of its […]
Industry veteran Chris Shipp has joined Reibus, the online metals marketplace, as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. Shipp most recently served as Vice President of Supply Chain at Priefert Manufacturing in Mt. Pleasant, Texas. “As an incredible industry leader, it is fantastic that Chris is coming to Reibus to help us continue to build our strategic […]
For those of you who participate in our bi-weekly steel market analysis questionnaires, or if you are a Premium level member, the results from the last few weeks would suggest service centers are at a point where they will support new price increases by the domestic steel mills. We collect data from manufacturing companies and […]
Global pipe producer Tenaris is boosting production of oil country tubular goods at its welded mill in Hickman, Ark., to support growing customer demand in the U.S. “Hot rolled coil prices have begun to drop following massive gains last year, and customer demand continues to grow for domestically made pipe. These conditions make it the […]
How anxious is the steel market in the face of sharply declining steel prices? Based on Steel Market Update’s survey this week, anxiety levels are not as high as one might think. As more than one steel exec has commented recently, “Demand will be our saving grace.” SMU asked service center and manufacturing executives in […]
Though supply-chain bottlenecks, semiconductor scarcity and labor issues have improved for North American automakers, experts anticipate pockets of disruption lingering for much of H1 2022. Stellantis – Chrysler’s European parent company – said the automaker’s assembly plants in Belvidere, Ill., and Toluca, Mexico, are back up and running after recent downtime. Yet, its assemblies in Brampton […]
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 For obvious reasons 2021 was a very active year for HR futures – the runaway rise in prices helped bring […]
Steel Buyers Sentiment, as measured by Steel Market Update, has seen little change in the past two months despite declining steel prices and concerns about the economy and COVID heading into 2022. SMU surveys buyers every two weeks and asks how they view their chances of success in the near and longer term. SMU’s Current […]
I want to spend some time talking about the Steel Market Update website and the value that can be found there. Over the years we have tweaked and added new content to the site as we strive to provide more information to the industry and our readers. The SMU Website There are a number of […]