After dipping slightly the previous week, US steel capacity utilization jumped to 77.6% for the week ending March 27, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported. The MetalMiner Best Practice Library offers a wealth of knowledge and tips to help buyers stay on top of metals markets and buying strategies. US steel capacity utilization […]
Category: Metal Prices
Tight supply continues to push hot rolled coil prices upward in Western Europe
Continued tight supply for hot rolled coil in Western Europe has further pushed up prices for the flat product over the past 10 days. Sign up today for Gunpowder, MetalMiner’s free, biweekly e-newsletter featuring news, analysis and more. Hot rolled coil heats up Some producers’ offer prices from late last week are now at least […]
United Steelworkers announces ATI strike, citing ‘unfair labor practices’
The United Steelworkers union Monday announced a strike at nine Allegheny Technologies Inc. (ATI) facilities, citing what it calls “unfair labor practices.” The ATI strike, which began at 7 a.m. EDT Monday, marked the first at ATI since 1994, according to media reports. In addition, USW spokesperson Tony Montana told MetalMiner the strike involves workers […]
This Morning in Metals: Workers go on strike at Kansas steel manufacturing plant
This morning in metals news: workers went on strike at the Bradken plant in Atchison, Kansas, last week; Liberty Steel has asked for a massive government bailout in the UK; and, lastly, the copper price retraced last week. The MetalMiner Best Practice Library offers a wealth of knowledge and tips to help buyers stay on […]
US steel imports drop 22% in February
US steel imports in February — and through the first two months of the year — are down compared with 2020, the Census Bureau reported. Do you know the five best practices of sourcing metals, including steel? US steel imports in February down 22% from previous month US steel imports reached 1.71 million metric tons […]
Week in Review: Semiconductor shortage; MetalMiner webinar; rising Midwest Premium
Before we head into the weekend, let’s take a look back at the week that was and the metals storylines here on MetalMiner, including coverage of the semiconductor shortage, the Midwest Premium and more. A fire at a Japanese chip-making plant last week has slammed automotive operations. General Motors, Ford and many other automakers have […]
Economic Policy Institute: Section 232 tariffs delivered ‘near-immediate benefits’
Three years have passed since former President Donald Trump imposed Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum. The administration cited national security concerns when imposing the tariffs. In addition, it aimed to raise capacity utilization of the US steel and aluminum sectors. (For the week ending March 20, US mills reached a steel capacity utilization […]
Rising Midwest Premium reflects aluminum market tightness
The aluminum market is undeniably tight, as consumers are having to wait months for metal and the Midwest Premium rises. In some locations — Europe, in particular — consumers of rolled plate cannot secure new production space until well into Q3. Some mills have even pulled out of quoting for new business customers in 2021. […]
MetalMiner Webinar: Bull market buying and preparing for when prices come back down
Industrial metal buying organizations are in a difficult spot these days, as commodities are entrenched in a bull market. After the initial demand hit that commodities took on at the end of Q1 2020 with the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, materials prices have skyrocketed. Lead times have lengthened and demand for everything from automobiles […]
Copper mine production finishes 2020 unchanged year over year
Despite significant drops in output earlier in 2020 at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, global copper mine production last year came in unchanged compared with the previous year. According to the International Copper Study Group, the global copper market posted an apparent deficit of 560,000 tons in 2020. The MetalMiner Best Practice Library offers […]
