Market Sends Mixed Signals on Demand

Flat rolled steel buyers are fairly optimistic about their chances for success in the current market, though the various metrics Steel Market Update uses to gauge future demand are sending mixed signals. One likely cause is the uncertainty injected into the market by the Trump administration’s now-delayed Section 232 investigation.

According to the latest SMU Flat Rolled Market Trends Analysis, steel demand has been generally flat since the early second quarter. About 70 percent of respondents to the early August questionnaire report that demand remains about the same. An equal and offsetting number say they see demand improving or declining.