This morning in metals news: India is looking to curb its imports of copper and aluminum; Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill reached a financing agreement for the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine project; and Germany’s steel industry needs state aid. Sign up today for Gunpowder, MetalMiner’s free, biweekly e-newsletter featuring news, analysis and more. India targets […]
Category: Ferrous Metals
U.S. steel sector capacity utilization rate rises two percentage points
After dipping two weeks ago, the U.S. steel sector’s capacity utilization rate for the week ending Sept. 5 bounced back. Steel mills produced at a rate of 63.7% during the week ending Sept. 5, 2020, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). The rate marked an increase from the 61.7% recorded the prior […]
Week in Review: China automotive sales; steel capacity utilization; steel scrap prices
Before we head into the long Labor Day weekend, let’s take a look back at the week that was in the world of metals. Automakers released August sales reports, mostly showing sales remain down compared with 2019 levels. Meanwhile, for the week ending Aug. 29, U.S. steel mills’ capacity utilization fell compared with the previous […]
This Morning in Metals: Nucor to open Frostproof steel plant by end of year
This morning in metals news: steelmaker Nucor will open a new steel plant in Florida by the end of this year; U.S. gasoline prices are low heading into the Labor Day weekend; and Chinese demand continues to power high iron ore prices. 5 Mistakes Buyers Can Make When Sourcing Steel Nucor to open steel plant […]
This Morning in Metals: U.S. energy exports, imports nearly equal in May
This morning in metals news: the U.S.’s levels of exports and imports were approximately equal in May, according to the Energy Information Administration; Vale offered an update on emergency protocols at two of its dikes; and the U.S. has seen elevated levels of imports of standard pipe and tin plate in recent months. You want […]
The case for firmer steel scrap prices
Pandemic-related lockdowns constrained the global scrap market earlier this year. Consequently, operations were restricted or closed down. But even as containments have eased, the market has been slow to come back — resulting in rising prices for steel and base metal scrap over the summer. Stop obsessing about the actual forecasted steel price. It’s more […]
Despite pandemic’s impact on production, Indian steel exports rise
India’s steel production contracted since the arrival of COVID-19. However, exports surprisingly notched a new high in the April-July 2020 period. Steels exports more than doubled in these months to hit their highest level in six years, reported news agency Reuters. Are you prepared for your annual steel contract negotiations? Be sure to check out […]
This Morning in Metals: Trump takes aim at steel imports from Mexico, Brazil
This morning in metals news: President Donald Trump this Monday took aim at steel imports from Mexico and Brazil; the American Iron and Steel Institute responded to the development; and copper price surged to a two-year high. 5 Mistakes Buyers Can Make When Sourcing Steel. Trump targets steel from Brazil, Mexico The Trump administration took […]
U.S. steel sector capacity utilization rate dips to 61.7% last week
After a long stretch of weekly increases, the U.S. steel sector’s capacity utilization rate fell last week. According to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), U.S. steel mills produced at a capacity utilization rate of 61.7% for the week ending Aug. 29. The rate marked a decline from the 63.0% recorded for the week […]
This Morning in Metals: SHFE copper heads for fifth consecutive monthly rise
This morning in metals news: copper on the SHFE is headed for its fifth straight month of price increases; a Swedish joint venture is ramping up its efforts toward producing fossil-fuel-free steel; and Mexico is instituting a new export pre-approval process to avoid reimposition of steel tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump. Do you know […]
