Oil country tubular goods (OCTG) imports from four countries will now be subject to fresh antidumping and countervailing duties. The news comes after the US International Trade Commission’s (ITC) final ruling that the US industry is being harmed by OCTG imports from Argentina, Mexico, Russia, and South Korea that are being sold at less than […]
The number of active drilling rigs were mixed this week, with counts increasing in the US and falling in Canada, according to data from oilfield services company Baker Hughes. Activity in both the US and Canada has leveled out over the last two weeks and is not quite back to pre-Covid levels. The number of […]
The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) October Short-Term Energy Outlook was released earlier this month, forecasting spot prices and production for crude oil and natural gas. Crude oil prices are forecast to remain near current levels for the remainder of this year and to slightly increase in 2023. Natural gas prices are expected to rise slighly […]
I look for connections in current events, and often they are apparent for all the world to see. One recent example—in the Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August, Congress reinstated and revised the tax credit for “clean vehicles,” including electric, hybrid plug-in, and alternative fuel vehicles (such as hydrogen fuel cells). These cars are in […]
The number of active drilling rigs declined in the US this week, while Canadian counts increased, according to data from oilfield services company Baker Hughes. Activity in both the US and Canada has leveled out in recent weeks. The number of oil and gas rigs in operation is important to the steel industry because it […]
The Jones Act is in the news again. The Jones Act requires that all trade within the United States (including Puerto Rico) be carried on US-registered ships built in the United States and manned by crews composed of at least 90% American citizens or permanent residents. Last week, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas waived […]
JFE Shoji continues to invest and expand in North America. JFE Shoji Power Canada Inc. announced it will invest $20 million over the next 18 months to expand production of electrical transformer cores for use in oil-filled distribution and larger power transformer markets. This will increase its use of electrical steel, a product which is […]
The number of active drilling rigs increased in both the US and Canada this week, according to data from oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The number of oil and gas rigs in operation is important to the steel industry because it is a leading indicator of demand for oil country tubular goods (OCTG). The number […]
The Energy Information Administration’s August Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) was released earlier this month, forecasting spot prices and production for crude oil and natural gas. Crude oil prices are expected to remain at heightened levels for the remainder of this year, rising slightly into 2023. Natural gas prices are forecast to remain near recent highs […]
By CRU Principal Economist Alex Tuckett, from CRU’s Global Economic Outlook The rise in inflation has been a major headwind for the global economy. It has squeezed household incomes and led to a tightening of monetary policy across dozens of countries. Although the price environment in Europe remains red hot, there are tentative signs that […]
The number of active drilling rigs declined in both the US and Canada this week, according to data from oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The number of active oil and gas drilling rigs in operation is important to the steel industry because it is a leading indicator of demand for oil country tubular goods (OCTG). […]
SMU contributor Tim Stevenson is a partner at Metal Edge Partners, a firm engaged in Risk Management and Strategic Advisory. In this role, he and his firm design and execute risk management strategies for clients along with providing process and analytical support. In Tim’s previous role, he was a Director at Cargill Risk Management, and […]
US consumer confidence grew in August, rebounding more than expected after shrinking for three straight months, The Conference Board reported. Results in August were better than expected, measuring 103.2 points and ahead of the 97.7 estimates. The nice month-on-month (MoM) bump in consumer confidence runs parallel to the lower oil prices and is congruent with […]
The post-Cold War history of trade has certainly been turbulent. Readers may remember – if they are old enough – the euphoric days after the Berlin Wall fell and the Soviet Union fell apart. A key marker of the philosophical development explaining these cataclysmic events was an essay (1989) and book (1992) by Francis Fukuyama, […]
The number of active drilling rigs in the US and Canada was relatively flat in both countries this week, according to data from oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The number of active oil and gas drilling rigs in operation is important to the steel industry because it is a leading indicator of demand for oil […]
End use market demand is mixed as mid-year shipment data is reported The recession, inflation, and interest rates remain hot topics for aluminum producers and consumers. As new economic data is announced, both bright spots and points of concern emerge. First, this month’s report on inflation showed a drop month-on-month (MoM) and may signal that […]
Canadian flat-rolled steelmaker Stelco has reached a tentative agreement with one local union, and another has ratified a new, five-year labor contract with the company. The negotiating committee for United Steelworkers (USW) Local 8782 broke the news that it had agreed to tentative pact in an update to members on Wednesday, Aug. 17. USW Local […]
The Energy Information Administration’s August Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) remains subject to a high level of uncertainty due to the volitle global energy market. Contributing factors include Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, foreign and domestic oil production levels, and OPEC+ production decisions. Due to these variabilities, the EIA continues to warn that actual price outcomes could […]
The House of Representatives on Friday approved the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on a party-line vote. This legislation, with only Democratic support, passed the Senate 51-50 last weekend. The bill now goes to President Joe Biden, who will sign it into law. This is by any measure a major piece of legislation. On the surface, […]
Chicago-based Evraz North America is encouraged by its Russian parent company’s decision to divest its North American assets. The steelmaker said the move would provide increased certainty for its North American operations and employees. Evraz plc’s announcement of a sale “strengthens our long-term stability and will allow us to continue to lead in the markets where we […]
The United Steelworkers (USW) local chapter representing Stelco’s steelmaking operations will be in a legal position to strike as of 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 22. That’s according to a negotiation update sent to members of Local 8782, which represents the Canadian flat-rolled steelmaker’s Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke, Ontario. The union said it had […]
The number of active drilling rigs in the US and Canada slightly declined in both countries this week, according to data from oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The number of active oil and gas drilling rigs in operation is important to the steel industry because it is a leading indicator of demand for oil country […]
Strong OCTG pricing and demand is driving higher sales for global pipemaker Tenaris. The Luxembourg-based company reported $2.8 billion in sales during the second quarter—an 18% rise from the previous quarter and an 83% jump from Q2 2021. Q2 net income also rose 18% sequentially and showed growth of 118% year-on-year to reach $634 million. […]
Ryerson expects “counter-cyclical business conditions” in the third quarter, with moderating demand and falling prices resulting in lower sequential sales and shipments. The Chicago-based service center made the comments in its second quarter earnings report after the market closed on Wednesday, August 3. For Q2, sales volumes of 524,000 tons were down 6% from the […]
US Steel is trying to keep a stiff upper lip despite lower flat-rolled steel selling prices, continued supply chain problems, and an uneven economic outlook. “Let’s face it. There’s a lot of uncertainty. Some people say more uncertainty than ever before,” company president and CEO David Burritt said. “I’m not so sure that’s true. But […]
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. “delivered an exceptional second quarter with record-setting financial performance and outstanding operational execution,” CEO Jim Hoffman said in the service center’s second quarter results release. Reliance reported record second quarter net income of $572.8 million on sales of $4.68 billion. The company’s top results were driven by “ongoing healthy demand” […]
Austal USA has been contracted to build two more towing, salvage, and rescue ships (T-ATS) for the US Navy. The latest contract for the Mobile, Ala.-based shipbuilder, valued at $156 million, is in addition to two other T-ATS contracts awarded to the company last year. The T-ATSs support the Navy fleet operations with ocean-going tug, […]
The number of total active drilling rigs in the US and Canada increased this week, according to data from oilfield services company Baker Hughes. The number of active oil and gas drilling rigs in operation is important to the steel industry because it is a leading indicator of oil country tubular goods (OCTG) demand. The […]
Producer prices rose moderately in June, maintaining a sustained 27-month growth run. Last month the headline index grew by just 3.3%, seasonally adjusted, but was up 23.4% compared to the same year-ago period, the US Labor Department reported. The wholesale level was hit hard by inflation as well in June. The producer price index (PPI), […]
The Energy Information Administration’s July Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) remains subject to a high level of uncertainty, driven by factors such as sanctions affecting Russia’s oil production, the production decisions of OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries), and the rate at which US producers increase drilling. Due to these variabilities, the EIA continues to […]