The Construction MMI (Monthly Metals Index) continues to experience pressure from both sides amid conflicting global construction news. For instance, U.S. scrap steel prices recently dropped due to more vehicles being manufactured (car manufacturing always produces ample scrap). However, Chinese steel product prices went up at the same time. Ultimately, metal markets witnessed more movement […]
Category: Carbon Steel
Automotive MMI: Consumer Demand Still Up, Sideways Steel Prices Helping Automotive Industry
Compared to other metal industries, components of the automotive industry still remain somewhat strong, despite the Automotive MMI (Monthly Metal Index’s) sideways movement over the past seven months. Pent-up consumer demand still runs strong in the industry. However, it still continues to battle high interest rates and falling steel prices due to slumping demand. There […]
Chinese Exports, Steel Prices Trigger Crisis for Indian Producers
India may be the world’s second-largest steel producer, yet it continues to grapple with reliance on steel imports. In the last few months, China has emerged as a major steel exporter to India, leading to protests from India’s domestic sector. Indeed, India’s June 2023 steel imports rose by 5.9% month-on-month and 7.6% year-on-year. Alongside China, the country also […]
Ukraine’s Metinvest to Build Steel Plant in Italy
Ukraine’s Metinvest plans to build a new steel manufacturing facility in Italy. Indeed, an official for the group recently confirmed reports of plans to build a plant in either that country or Bulgaria. “Many people talked about the fact that we are considering the possibility of building a new plant in Italy. Indeed, this is the […]
Construction MMI: Construction Material Costs Remain Elevated
The latest construction news reports that while interest rates remain high, inflation is finally losing steam. This could go a long way toward helping U.S. construction projects. However, the Construction MMI (Monthly Metals Index) continues to experience pull in both directions. This is mainly due to ongoing labor shortages and the inflated cost of materials […]
Liberty Steel Victorious, Acquires Hungary’s Dunaferr for $61 Million
Liberty Steel recently won a bid to take over Hungary’s Dunaferr. According to Hungary’s Ministry of Economic Development, a local court put the integrated flats producer into liquidation in late 2022. Liberty will pay €55 million ($61 million) for the Dunaferr plant, beating out India’s Vulcan Steel, Ukrainian group Metinvest, Swiss-based Trasteel Trading, and local […]
Raw Steels MMI: Bearish HRC, Steel Prices Flatten at Start of July
The Raw Steels Monthly Metals Index (MMI) moved sideways, with a modest 0.32% decline from June to July. Flat rolled steel prices appeared decidedly bearish throughout June. HRC prices saw the largest month-over-month decline, dropping nearly 16% before finding a bottom at the start of July. From there, HRC prices saw a modest $1/st increase […]
Chinese Mills Brace for Tough H2 Amid Insufficient Consumption, Falling Steel Prices
China’s major steelmakers recently warned of a “very challenging” H2 that could impact steel prices. As noted in news reports quoting the China Iron & Steel Association (CISA), this goes against earlier expectations of improvement in the sector. According to a June 30 report from Bloomberg, officials from China Baowu Steel Group, Ansteel Group, Hesteel, […]
Automotive MMI: Automobile Sales Rise, but Falling Steel Demand Impacts Market
The Automotive MMI (Monthly Metals Index) continued its decline in June, this time falling by 3.28%. The aluminum and copper components of the index traded sideways. However, all other parts of the index dropped. Lead prices managed to trend more sideways in June than in May, but weak demand continues to impact lead and steel […]
Chinese Steel Manufacturing Sounds the Alarms
This past weekend, China’s primary steel manufacturing companies released a cautionary statement regarding their profits. In the statement, the manufacturers acknowledged a series of obstacles they expect to encounter in the latter half of the year. They also attribute disappointing demand, dwindling profitability, and cost reduction pressures as the primary factors exacerbating these challenges. The China […]
