It was an intervention that was the subject of rumors, and now it’s coming true. China, the world’s largest steelmaker and consumer, recently announced it would be “restructuring” its steel industry through cuts in crude steel output, a move many analysts and experts call China “protecting its own turf.” Stay up to date on changes […]
Tag: steel prices
Worried About Trump Tariffs? Here’s Our Comprehensive Guide to 2025 Steel and Aluminum Tariffs
In February 2025, President Trump reinstated and expanded the Section 232 tariffs on all steel (including stainless steel products) and aluminum imports, setting a flat 25% duty effective March 12, 2025 (what’s known as the “Trump Tariffs”). This renewed policy removes all previously negotiated country-specific exemptions and broadens the tariff’s scope to include a diverse […]
Trump’s Tariffs: EU Warns of ‘Firm and Proportionate’ Counterstrike
European bodies recently criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s order to introduce tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports entering the country. Meanwhile, experts at home and abroad continue to evaluate how the trade dispute will affect steel prices and aluminum prices. The European Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, recently vowed that it would respond […]
Construction MMI: Tariff Talk: What Should the Construction Industry Expect?
The Construction MMI (Monthly Metals Index) held its sideways trend, budging down a slight 1.35%. Meanwhile, the U.S. construction industry faces a complex landscape shaped by recent policy changes, Trump tariffs and other economic factors. Tariffs and Their Effect on Construction Materials Steel remains a fundamental component of modern construction, playing a crucial role in […]
Raw Steels MMI: Mills Push For Steel Price Increases, Tariffs on Deck
The Raw Steels Monthly Metals Index (MMI) remained sideways, with a modest 0.78% increase from January to February. However, steel prices could still be in for significant volatility. Mills Push for Price Increases After Weak Q4 As Q4 financial results started to pour in, they reflected a challenging end to 2024. While data from Cliffs […]
Automotive MMI: Market Witnesses Volatility with Tariff Concerns
The Automotive MMI (Monthly Metals Index) held sideways for the third month in a row, moving up a mere 0.62%. In January, the U.S. automotive industry faced significant developments affecting metals prices and manufacturing processes. Key factors included proposed tariffs, strategic investments in steel production and notable market reactions among automotive stocks. Tariff Panic and […]
Weak Markets Forces Swiss Steel to Trim Jobs and Revenues
Specialty and stainless longs producer Swiss Steel recently reached an agreement on a plan to reduce the workforce at its production site in Lucerne Canton, in central Switzerland. The move represents another blow to the European steel industry, which continues to struggle. The Lucerne-headquartered company now plans to reduce up to 50 positions at its […]
EU Steel Imports Soar 12% as Importers Race Against Anti-Dumping Duties
Steel imports into the European Union rose by an average of more than 12% year on year in the first ten days of Q1 2025. As of January 13, information from Germany-headquartered Metals Consulting International (MCI) indicated that total steel industry import volumes transacted under Tariff Rate Quotas totaled 2.2 million metric tons. This far […]
Raw Steels MMI: Nippon Acquisition of U.S. Steel Blocked, Bad News for Steel Buyers
The Raw Steels Monthly Metals Index (MMI) remained sideways with a slight downside bias, falling 1.49% from December to January. Meanwhile, the blocked sale of U.S. Steel could significantly affect steel prices in 2025. Biden Blocks Nippon-U.S. Steel Sale After the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) came to a split decision, the […]
Renewables MMI: Q4 Battery Metal Results & Trump Administration Anticipated Market Shifts
The Renewables MMI (Monthly Metals Index) dropped by 5.47% from December to January. Overall, renewable energy materials and battery metals experienced a somewhat bullish Q4. However, weak demand within China weighed heavily on metals like lithium and copper, and many market analysts expect the incoming Trump administration to place additional bearish sentiment on renewable energy […]