This morning in metals news: Ford Motor Co. announced Changan Ford will manufacture the new all-electric Mach-E SUV in China for local customers; the U.S.’s monthly deficit declined from November to December; and U.S. steel imports fell by 21% last year. Sign up today for Gunpowder, MetalMiner’s free, biweekly e-newsletter featuring news, analysis and more. […]
Category: Ferrous Metals
China’s property market is a driver — and risk — for steel prices
Just about every review of growth in China — of steel prices or of iron ore demand — contains reference to China’s property market. Few countries in the world have a property sector that plays such a large and dynamic role in the country’s GDP. Furthermore, few have one that causes such concern among a […]
World Steel Association: Global crude steel production down 0.9% in 2020
After global crude steel production rose for four consecutive years, output declined last year, the World Steel Association reported Tuesday. Global crude steel production drops 0.9% in 2020 Global crude steel production fell by 0.9% in 2020 compared with 2019, the World Steel Association reported. Production had increased every year from 2015-2019. Output last year […]
This Morning in Metals: Biden signs executive order aimed at boosting federal procurement of U.S.-made products
This morning in metals news: President Joe Biden on Monday signed an executive order aimed at boosting U.S. manufacturing; the U.S. steel sector’s capacity utilization rate during the week ending Jan. 23 reached 75.7%; and the Energy Information Administration expects energy-related carbon dioxide emissions to tick back up once again in 2021 and 2022 after […]
This Morning in Metals: Cleveland-Cliffs releases Q4 2020 results
This morning in metals news: Cleveland-Cliffs released its preliminary Q4 2020 results; demand for sustainable aluminum is rising in the maritime industry; and U.S. steel prices continue to rise. Cleveland-Cliffs revenue jumps Cleveland-Cliffs reported Q4 2020 revenues of approximately $2.2 billion to $2.3 billion. The total marked a 320% year-over-year jump. Meanwhile, the firm reported […]
This Morning in Metals: U.S. housing starts jump in December
This morning in metals news: privately owned housing starts in the U.S. ticked up by 5.8%, according to the Census Bureau; new COVID-19 lockdown restrictions are impacting China’s major steel-producing region; and the primary aluminum market posted a surplus through the first 11 months of 2020. Housing starts jump in December Privately owned housing starts […]
Germany’s ThyssenKrupp mulls steel division spinoff
German steelmaker ThyssenKrupp must be desperate to get rid of its steel business. The steelmaker makes a great range of products of world-class quality. The brand has undeniable strength as a result. However, it has not and cannot make money from it. ThyssenKrupp steel division posts losses The ThyssenKrupp steel division lost money last year. […]
This Morning in Metals: U.S. steel capacity utilization hits 76.7%
This morning in metals news: the U.S. steel sector’s capacity utilization rate hit 76.7% last week; the London Metal Exchange has proposed permanently closing its iconic Ring trading floor; and the copper price has trended flat over the past week. Steel capacity utilization reaches 76.7% The U.S. steel sector’s capacity utilization rate hit 76.7% for […]
LME steel contracts build momentum
Steel is the world’s second-largest commodity after crude oil. It is 15 times the size of all other metals markets combined in terms of metric tons. Furthermore, it is worth twice their value. Yet, until recently, it was an industry that saw little use for a futures market. That is primarily because major steel participants […]
Week in Review: January 2021 MMI is out; what’s in store for iron ore?; Oyu Tolgoi expansion faces pushback
Before we head into the weekend, let’s take a quick look back at the week that was and the metals storylines here on MetalMiner, including the release of the January 2021 MMI, a look at what might happen to the iron ore price and much more. Inauguration Day draws near for President-elect Joe Biden, leaving […]