The effect of COVID-19 and the shelter-in-place orders that followed had widespread impact across the U.S. construction sector. States that have had extensive and extended stoppage measures in place, however, have struggled disproportionally to rebound, according to the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Procore Technologies Inc., AGC’s data collection partner, said the impact of […]
U.S. steel product shipments slipped in February by 1.7%, the first decrease since bottoming out in April 2020 when COVID nearly brought the economy to a standstill. Despite the decrease month on month, which may be due to seasonal factors, steel shipments have recovered to pre-pandemic volumes and posted an increase of 5.5% compared to February […]
Weekly raw steel production by U.S. mills, which totaled 1,770,000 net tons in the week ending April 17, has seen small up-and-down fluctuations over the past five weeks. Average mill utilization last week grew to 78.0%, up from 77.6% the week prior, but a big jump from the same period last year when production was […]
Steel Market Update’s latest analysis of the monthly Key Market Indicators shows that our Present Situation markers have seen little change when compared to the month prior, while the Trend change saw a visible shift upward during the same period. Overall, the marketplace continues to recover from the pandemic as key metrics show further improvement. […]
Mill shipments of steel products fell 9.8% month on month in February, while apparent supply was down by 12.5% during the same period. This is the first noticeable decrease in both apparent supply and shipments of steel since the market reached bottom back in May 2020. Mill shipments were down by 13.1% year on year, […]
This report examines the import share of sheet and plate products. Imports’ share of total sheet product shipments was 14.0% in February, up from 9.7% in January. The increase corresponds to a simultaneous decrease in domestic shipments and a rise in imports. Domestics shipments in February totaled 3.84 million tons, the lowest mark since this […]
This report examines the import share of tubular and long products shipments. Imports’ share of total tubular products rose to 44.6% in February, up from 42.5% the month prior, but primarily due to a 9.7% decrease in domestic tubular shipments overall. Tubular imports decreased for the third consecutive month in February. Long products import market […]
Weekly raw steel production by U.S. mills totaled 1,761,000 net tons in the week ending April 10, down 0.3% compared with the week before when production was 1,766,000 net tons. The mill utilization rate last week averaged 77.6%, down from 77.9% the week prior, but up 42.0% from the same period last year when production […]
Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais (Usiminas) is set to bring an idled blast furnace back online in June at their Ipatinga plant in Brazil’s southeastern state of Minas Gerais, according to Steel Market Update sources. Back in April 2020, Usiminas idled the #1 and #2 blast furnaces due to lower demand resulting from widespread closures and […]
The U.S. economy added 916,000 jobs in March, posting increases for a second consecutive month and pushing well ahead of early estimates, reported the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Gains were strongest in leisure and hospitality, while construction jumped by 126,000. Following a depressing close to 2020 and a loss of 447,000 jobs in January, total […]
The U.S. labor market saw a strong surge in employment to closed out the first quarter. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that employers added 916,000 to their payrolls in March, more than doubling the 379,000 jobs added in February. Following a dismal close to 2020 and a slow start in January, total […]
Producer prices continue to register solid monthly increases from the losses suffered during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The composite Producer Price Index (PPI) of all commodities from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed an increase of 2.1% in February versus the prior month, and a 6.0% increase year on year, seasonally adjusted. […]
Producer prices continue to rebound from the losses suffered during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Since the decreases in March and April of 2020, the composite Producer Price Index (PPI) of all commodities from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has seen consistent month-on-month increases. March’s index registered a 3.7% increase versus the prior […]
U.S. raw steel production rose for the second consecutive week following a slight dip in mid-March. Weekly steel production by U.S. mills totaled 1,766,000 tons in the week ending April 3, an increase of 0.3% compared with the week prior when production was 1,760,000 tons. The mill utilization rate last week averaged 77.9%, up from […]
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced two new initiatives the Biden administration is taking to advance its clean energy goals. They consist of offshore wind power generation and a data-sharing agreement between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Ørsted Wind Power North America LLC, an offshore wind developer. The administration’s renewable resource […]
Total construction expenditures edged down in February to $1.52 trillion, down 0.8% from January’s revised estimate of $1.53 trillion, reported the U.S. Census Bureau. Despite the slight dip month on month, total construction was up 5.3% compared to a year ago when spending totaled $1.44 trillion. Year-to-date construction spending amounted to $2.13 trillion, 4.9% above the $2.03 […]
U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) finished 2020 with annualized growth of 4.3% in the fourth quarter, a slight upward adjustment based on the third estimate from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The third estimate included upward revisions to private inventory investment that was partly offset by a downward revision to nonresidential fixed investment. An annualized […]
U.S. consumer confidence took a major leap forward in March, according to the latest data from The Conference Board. “Consumer confidence increased to its highest level since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020,” said Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board. “Consumers’ assessment of current conditions and their short-term […]
U.S. consumer confidence saw major gains in April, according to the latest data from The Conference Board. April’s index rose by about 13.0 points month on month, following a nearly 18.6-point increase in March. “Consumer confidence has rebounded sharply over the last two months and is now at its highest level since February 2020,” said Lynn […]
U.S. raw steel production rebounded last week after slipping a bit the week prior. Weekly steel production by U.S. mills totaled 1,760,000 tons in the week ending March 27, an increase of 0.4% compared with the week before when production was 1,753,000 tons. The mill utilization rate last week averaged 77.6%, up from 77.3% week […]
Global crude steel production totaled 150.2 million metric tons in February, up 4.1% from the same month last year, reported the World Steel Association. Despite the positive year-over-year result, February’s total was down 7.8% from January and was the lowest output since July 2020 when monthly production was 155.5 million metric tons. February’s data is […]
As the world continues to work itself back from the doldrums of the COVID health pandemic, global crude steel production seems to be hitting its stride as it strives to catch up with rising demand. Except for Brazil, which saw no change in crude steel production month on month, all the top 10 global producers and regions […]
World crude steel production, at 150.2 million metric tons, was 4.1% higher in February than in the same month last year, reported the World Steel Association. February’s data is significant in that it’s the last month that year-over-year figures can be compared pre-pandemic without being skewed by COVID, which hit in March last year. February’s […]
U.S. raw steel production took a slight step back this week following repeated gains over the past five weeks. Weekly steel production by U.S. mills totaled 1,753,000 tons in the week ending March 20, bringing production down 0.5% compared with the week prior when production was 1,761,000 tons. The mill utilization rate last week averaged […]
Zekelman Industries has lauded the Biden administration for continuing to support the Section 232 tariffs. In fact, the company celebrated the anniversary and continuation of Section 232 by giving employees a $1,000 bonus. Barry Zekelman, CEO and Executive Chairman of the Chicago-based pipe and tube manufacturer, praised the Trump-era tariff, but called on the president […]
Steel product shipments continued to improve through January this year, maintaining a month-on-month growth trend since bottoming in April 2020 when COVID shook the economy. Steel shipments have recovered to pre-pandemic volumes and posted an increase of 2.7% compared to January 2020 levels, according to Census Bureau data on inventories, shipments and new orders for total […]
The Coalition of American Metal Manufacturers and Users (CAMMU) is appealing to the Department of Commerce (DOC) to terminate Section 232 tariffs and quotas on imported steel and aluminum, in a followup to similar demands directed at the Biden administration on Feb. 10. In a March 15 letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, CAMMU–which claims to represent […]
U.S. raw steel production rose again, a trend that has continued for five weeks and counting. Weekly steel production by U.S. mills totaled 1,761,000 tons in the week ending March 16, pushing production up 0.3% compared with the week prior when production was 1,755,000 tons. The small increase may reflect some seasonality as construction and […]
Steel Market Update’s monthly analysis of Key Market Indicators–a host of data on the economy, raw materials, manufacturing, construction, and steel sheet and long products–shows that the marketplace continues to improve, albeit cautiously. At the onset of COVID-19 a year ago, the impact of the pandemic on the economy was delayed, with only 3 of […]
Editor’s note: Steel Market Update is pleased to share this Premium content–an edited version of our Key Market Indicators analysis–with Executive members. For information on how to upgrade to a Premium-level subscription, email Info@SteelMarketUpdate.com. Steel Market Update’s monthly analysis of Key Market Indicators–a host of data on the economy, raw materials, manufacturing, construction, and steel […]