With oil and gas prices rising, the nation’s shale plays, particularly the Permian Basin, are struggling with costly bottlenecks as drillers try to pump more crude and natural gas than the existing pipelines can handle. Energy companies are committing billions to new and expanded pipelines over the next several years, which represents a major opportunity […]
Voters who go to the polls in Colorado next month will consider Proposition 112, a measure with serious implications for the energy industry in their state, and beyond. “If this passes, not only will it devastate our economy, but also the economies of surrounding states,” an executive from a steel fabricator in Denver told Steel […]
A strong economy and equally strong steel demand propelled Nucor Corp. earnings growth in the third quarter. Nucor reported earnings of $676.7 million in the third quarter, which included a non-cash impairment charge of $110.0 million related to its natural gas well assets. In comparison, second quarter net earnings were $683.2 and third quarter 2017 […]
The U.S. active rig count, an indicator of oil country tubular goods demand, increased this week, according to oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The number of active U.S. rigs rose by 11 to 1,063, with oil rigs up 8 to 869 rigs, gas rigs up 4 to 193 rigs, and miscellaneous rigs down 1 to […]
The U.S. active rig count, an indicator of oil country tubular goods demand, increased this week, according to oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The number of active U.S. rigs rose by 1 to 1,054, with oil rigs down 3 to 863 rigs, gas rigs up 3 to 189 rigs, and miscellaneous rigs up 1 to […]
The following article is regularly published for our Premium users, but we decided to share it with our entire readership this month. If you are interested in upgrading to a Premium subscription, contact us at info@SteelMarketUpdate.com or 800-432-3475. Oil and gas prices have stabilized, oil inventories are declining and the number of operating rigs exploring […]
Steel Market Update is sharing this Premium-level content with all readers this month. For more information on how to upgrade to a Premium subscription, email info@SteelMarketUpdate.com. Oil production in the U.S. hit another all-time high in July, but the number of operating rigs exploring for oil and gas has not changed much in 3½ months. […]
Oil production in the U.S. set another all-time record in August and stocks are increasing. In the last month, the price of oil has dropped by $16/barrel. Wall Street Breakfast had this to say on Nov. 9: “Oil fell below the $60 level overnight, a day after slipping into a bear market. That means U.S. […]
The U.S. active rig count, an indicator of oil country tubular goods demand, increased this week, according to oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The number of active U.S. rigs rose by 7 to 1,055, with oil rigs up 7 to 867 rigs, gas rigs unchanged at 186 rigs, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 2 rigs. […]
Both the plate mills and their customers are advising Steel Market Update that, unlike the hot rolled markets, the plate markets are hot and are expected to continue to be hot for some time to come. The plate mills continue to be on “controlled order entry” (allocation) and all of the mills are struggling to […]
The U.S. active rig count, an indicator of oil country tubular goods demand, increased this week, according to oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The number of active U.S. rigs rose by 4 to 1,048, with oil rigs up 2 to 862 rigs, gas rigs up 2 to 184 rigs, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 2 […]
The spot price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) has been erratic in the last four months with two brief spikes above $70 per barrel. The oil price was $66.50 on Aug. 20. The total number of operating rigs exploring for oil and gas was up by 11.7 percent year over year and increased by nine […]
The U.S. active rig count, an indicator of oil country tubular goods demand, increased this week, according to oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The number of active U.S. rigs rose by 13 to 1,057, with oil rigs up 10 to 869 rigs, gas rigs up 3 to 186 rigs, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 2 […]
The U.S. active rig count, an indicator of oil country tubular goods demand, increased this week, according to oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The number of active U.S. rigs rose by 2 to 1,048, with oil rigs up 3 to 861 rigs, gas rigs down 1 to 186 rigs, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 1 […]
The Associated General Contractors of America are supportive of long-term legislation proposed by the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to address the nation’s aging infrastructure problem. The draft proposal includes a user-fee approach to fund infrastructure repair. AGC CEO Stephen Sandherr said the association is prepared to work with the chairman, leadership […]
Oil prices have bounced around a bit lately, struggling to stay above the $70 per barrel mark. The spot price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) broke through $70 on May 7 for the first time since Nov. 27, 2014, and stayed above that level through May 24 this year. The price declined to $64.75 on June […]
The industries that move the nations’ freight are scrambling to find ways to mitigate risks from U.S.-imposed tariffs and foreign-imposed retaliatory tariffs that will impact supply lines and trade flow. Volatility seems to be the new normal as industries face uncertainty over international trade conflicts. Ports Prepare for Tariff Disruptions The Trump administration’s addition of […]
The U.S. rig count, an indicator of oil country tubular goods demand, increased this week, according to July 13 data from oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The number of active U.S. drill rigs rose by 2 to 1,054 rigs, with oil rigs unchanged at 863 rigs, gas rigs up 2 to 189 rigs, and miscellaneous […]
The U.S. rig count, an indicator of oil country tubular goods demand, fell this week, according to June 28 data from oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The number of active U.S. drill rigs fell by 5 to 1,047 rigs, with oil rigs down 4 to 858 rigs, gas rigs down 1 to 187 rigs, and […]
JSW Steel plans to pump $500 million into its newly acquired Acero Junction steel mill in a two-phase investment. The first $250 million includes the cost of acquisition, the revamp and restart of the electric arc furnace and slab caster, and modernization of the hot strip mill. The second phase will be dependent “upon the […]
The price of oil topped the $70 per barrel mark last month, a level that often triggers new investment. Indeed, the rig count is up significantly from last year. But the oil price has since receded a bit. The spot price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) broke through $70 on May 7 for the first […]
Major pipeline producers are seeking tariff exclusions for imported pipe used in pipeline projects currently in progress. Of the estimated 21,000 exclusion requests submitted to Commerce, more than 500 requests are for pipe and other energy-related materials. A report released June 18 by the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) estimates 41,000 miles of […]
The trade war with China has begun. On June 15, the United States announced it will place 25 percent tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese goods. The announcement was swiftly followed by one from China imposing retaliatory tariffs in an equivalent amount. In a statement on Friday, President Trump said: “My great friendship with President […]
The U.S. rig count, an indicator of oil country tubular goods demand, rose this week, according to June 1 data from oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The number of active U.S. drill rigs rose by 1 to 1,060 rigs, with oil rigs up 2 to 861 rigs, gas rigs down 1 to 197 rigs, and […]
With the price of oil now above $70 per barrel, the prospects appear positive for oil country tubular goods. But economic and political tensions on a global scale will keep energy prices uncertain. The spot price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) broke through $70 on May 7 for the first time since Nov. 27, 2014. […]
The U.S. rig count, an indicator of oil country tubular goods demand, rose this week, according to May 4 data from oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The number of active U.S. drill rigs rose by 11 to 1,032 rigs, with oil rigs up 9 to 834 rigs, gas rigs up 1 to 196 rigs, and […]
Oil prices are firm, and the drill rig count continues to increase, which is positive news for suppliers to the energy sector. The spot price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) has remained above $60 per barrel since Feb. 14 and on April 10 closed at $65.48 per barrel. The total number of operating rigs exploring […]
The U.S. rig count, an indicator of oil country tubular goods demand, rose this week, according to April 13 data from oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The number of active U.S. drill rigs rose by 5 to 1,008 rigs, with oil rigs up 7 to 815 rigs, gas rigs down 2 to 192 rigs, and […]
JSW Steel announced it will invest $500 million in its U.S. plate and pipe operations. The Baytown, Texas, facility will receive $150 million in upgrades and the rest will fund a new hot-end facility to make steel. Texas Governor Gregg Abbott signed an agreement with the company to provide a grant of $3.4 million. The […]
Last week, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) announced that in the last two months of 2017, the U.S. pumped more crude oil than at any time in history. The spot price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) broke through the $60 level on Dec. 29 for the first time since Dec. 18, 2014. It reached $64.22 […]