GOES MMI: Spot Prices Fall Slightly but Section 232 Looms Large

The M3 GOES MMI — the sub-index tracking grain-oriented electrical steel — fell two points this past month from 189 to 187.
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The small decline in the U.S. runs counter to market price trends for Japanese GOES material. According to a recent TEX Report, Japanese producers have won price increases because of supply shortages. Moreover, Korea’s Posco scored a $300/metric ton price increase to supply India.
Meanwhile, MetalMiner sources say Chinese producers appear fickle, quickly raising prices only to lower them to accept new orders and fill capacity.
The 800-pound gorilla in the room, however, involves the Section 232 investigations.
Many are speculating that the delay will bring about a more modest set of recommendations from Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, as the much-awaited report rumored to have been released prior to the July 4 holiday and delayed to right after the G20 summit, has still yet to be released.
MetalMiner speculated about potential outcomes in a story published nearly a month ago (and still believes that to be the most likely outcome). Meanwhile, Australia appears confident that it will be exempted from any such action. Some have suggested that Canada might also feel secure in receiving an exemption, but MetalMiner has not been able to substantiate that claim. Moreover, because Canada is such a significant supplier to the U.S. for steel products, it’s hard to conceive of how that country would receive a full exemption from whatever is recommended under Section 232.
Of course, Canada remains a critical part of the GOES supply chain, as Canada produces wound and stacked cores and exports them to the U.S.
Meanwhile, Back at the BRS Ranch…
In addition to the Section 232 investigation, David Stickler, CEO of Big River Steel (BRS), recently indicated at a steel conference that BRS would move forward with an additional study and due diligence activities on its Phase II expansion to include non-oriented electrical steel (NOES) capability.
Industry participants suggest that this could also include Phase III funding that includes GOES capability.
Last month, MetalMiner reported on growth projections for electric vehicles (which requires NOES materials to get the power from the battery to the motor) and the numbers suggest very large growth within the automotive sector. This will likely form the basis of due diligence activities and indirectly impacts GOES production, as NOES is often produced on the same lines.
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What this means for industrial buyers
It’s hard to pay close attention to the month-to-month movements of what is essentially a M3 spot market index. The Section 232 investigation outcome remains potentially the single biggest price driver for the U.S. market.
Exact GOES Coil Price This Month
The U.S. grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES) coil price fell slightly to $2,581/metric ton from $2,602/mt the previous month.
The GOES MMI® collects and weights one global grain-oriented electrical steel price point to provide a unique view into price trends over a 30-day period. For more information on the GOES MMI®, how it’s calculated or how your company can use the index, please drop us a note at: info (at) agmetalminer (dot) com.