Month-over-month, the index experienced little movement. Overall, the Construction MMI (Monthly Metals Index) moved sideways, inching down just 1.2%. Steel prices moving downward placed some bearish pressure on the index. However, several significant factors continue to press on construction from both a bearish and bullish standpoint, including the Fed holding off on adjusting interest rates, […]
Category: Carbon Steel
Automotive MMI: Automotive Market Improves, but Bears Show Up for Steel Prices
Month-over-month, the Automotive MMI (Monthly Metals Index) dropped by 3.03%. While the automotive market continued to improve overall, bearish pressure on certain steel prices like hot-dipped galvanized steel, ultimately forced the index down. Experts anticipate this bearish pressure to continue impacting both steel prices and automotive manufacturing in the short term. Despite this, the automotive […]
Indian Steel Demand Battles Influx of Chinese Imports
In July, India became a net importer of steel for the fourth time in the last year. And therein lies a tale of tariffs, changes in steel prices, and supply and demand. However, before discussing those issues, it’s important to revisit the facts. A recent report by India’s Steel Ministry revealed the country became a […]
Metinvest Reports Drop in Steel Production Amidst Russian Invasion
Ukrainian metals and mining group Metinvest recently reported a 31% decrease year on year in its crude steel production for 2023, citing Russia’s ongoing invasion of the country. The company halted steel manufacturing activities at its assets in Mariupol, Avdiivka, and Zaporizhzhia two years ago. This includes the Azovstal, Ilyich Steel, Avdiivka Coke, and Zaporizhzhia […]
UK Places Hot Rolled Steel Imports Under Scrutiny with Tata Steel Closure Plans
The United Kingdom’s Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) recently initiated a suspension review on safeguard measures against hot rolled flat and coil steels. Steel news sources report that the move also came alongside a tariff quota review. TRA reported on February 9 that both Tata Steel UK (TSUK) and steel trader Kromat Trading filed applications for […]
Renewables/GOES MMI: The “Dirty” Business of Disposing of Solar Panels
Numerous factors continue to pull at the Renewables MMI (Monthly Metals Index) as it moves through Q1. This past month, the index largely moved sideways, only exhibiting a slight upward movement of 1.66%. Meanwhile, renewable energy news indicated that metals like cobalt and silicon could remain in oversupply for some time. Moreover, expanding mining operations […]
Raw Steels MMI: Steel Prices Decrease as Nippon Deal Faces Setback
The Raw Steels Monthly Metals Index (MMI) fell 11.17% from January to February as steel prices declined. U.S. flat rolled steel prices continued to slide after finding a peak at the close of 2023. Following a 2% decline throughout January, hot rolled coil prices fell over 5% during the first half of February. HRC prices […]
Steel Production Declines in December 2023: Factors Impacting the Global Steel Market
Data from the World Steel Association (Worldsteel) released on January 25 indicates that global crude steel production remained largely unchanged year on year. Indeed, steel market analysis says poured liquid steel totaled 1.88 billion metric tons last year, which is similar to the volume poured in 2022. The association also stated that crude steel production […]
Is China’s Surge in Crude Oil, Coal, and Iron Ore Imports Really a Sign of Economic Strength?
News coming out of China indicates the country set new records in 2023 for the import of crude oil, coal, and iron ore. The revelation caught many by surprise, but analysts caution that this may not really signify a robust demand for these essential materials. Nor does it indicate that there has been any reversal […]
Steel Manufacturing: Uncertainty Looms as Liberty Steel Ostrava Workers Delay Return
Workers at flats producer Liberty Steel Ostrava in the Czech Republic did not return to work on January 16, despite local media reports stating that workers agreed to resume working on this date. The Daily Denik noted that there were a couple of other “return dates” set for the steel manufacturing plant, including January 3 […]
