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Economy & Markets
The latest on the economy's health and the markets driving the supply and demand of steel.
Latest News
Alacero Forecasts Sees Steel Consumption on the Rise in 2017
27 October 2016 - Latin America’s steel consumption is expected to drop 6.5% this year, but is forecast to partially rebound in 2017 on growth in its major markets, according to the Latin American Steel Association.
Allegheny Technologies Moves to Permanently Shut Down Two Mills
27 October 2016 - Specialty metals producer Allegheny Technologies Inc. is permanently closing two idled mills in southwestern Pennsylvania, marking its exit from the grain-oriented electrical steel market and a step back from the commodity stainless market.
Canadian Legislators to Study Steel Dumping
24 October 2016 - A Canadian parliamentary committee is undertaking a study of the factors that are hindering the country’s steelmakers from competing internationally, including unfair trade.
Ferriola Confident Big River Won't Drain Nucor's Business
21 October 2016 - Nucor Corp. is prepared to battle start-up Big River Steel, and, in fact, believes it has the upper hand on its new competitor, Nucor chief executive John Ferriola said Thursday.
With Low Oil Prices, U.S. Mills Lose Relative Energy Advantage
04 October 2016 - Not only have falling oil prices lowered the demand for steel pipe and tube, they’ve dulled a cost advantage U.S. steel producers had over their counterparts elsewhere in the world, according to an industry consultant.
Steel Construction Expected to Soften in 2017
04 October 2016 - There are many adjectives that will adequately describe the state of the steel construction markets in 2017, and none of them are particularly good, at least as the American Institute of Steel Construction sees it.
Analyst: Expect Tighter Competition in U.S. Sheet Market
04 October 2016 - Supply-side competition in the U.S. sheet market is likely to stiffen in the year ahead as new players enter the market and others become more aggressive, according to one analysts.
Chinese Steel Production Proving Difficult to Curb
27 September 2016 - If China really intends to cut its excess steelmaking capacity, then the effort is off to a lousy start, reports the Bloomberg news service.
Steel Dynamics Forecasts Rising Q3 Profits
20 September 2016 - U.S.-based Steel Dynamics Inc. said it expects to double its third-quarter per-share profit due to a widening gap between average steel prices and scrap costs.
Nucor Forecasts Rising Third-Quarter Earnings
15 September 2016 - Nucor Corp. said it expects to report third-quarter net earnings of between US$0.85 and US$0.90 per diluted share partly on account of improved profitability at its sheet mills and lessening pressure from imported products.
Amid Recession, Long Products Maker Gerdau Sending More Flat Steel Overseas
15 September 2016 - With the Brazilian economy in a deep recession, Gerdau SA is looking to sell flat steel into foreign markets, and is finding success.
Tenaris Plans November Restart of Idled Tube Mill
15 September 2016 - Tenaris plans to restart its idled seamless mill in Ontario, Canada, and is recalling between 120 and 150 union workers, the company has announced.
SAIL Records Fifth Straight Quarterly Loss, Forecasts Increasing Steel Demand
09 September 2016 - India’s largest steelmaker lost US$81 million in the first quarter of its fiscal year, but is forecasting increasing demand and is advancing plans to boost capacity, reports the Bloomberg news service.
G20 Nations Pledge to Address Excess Steel Capacity
06 September 2016 - Leaders at the G-20 summit in China have agreed to create a group that will promote discussion and cooperation amongst nations on the world’s excess steelmaking capacity.
Blaming Soft Plate Market, Essar Algoma Cuts Workforce
06 September 2016 - Canada’s Essar Steel Algoma is laying off more than six dozen employees owing to weakness in the plate markets, reports the online SooToday.com.
Steel Not on the G-20 Agenda for China
30 August 2016 - China is keen on discussing its financial reforms during the upcoming Group of 20 summit – and less so on talking about the world’s excess steelmaking capacity, reports The Nikkei Asian Review.
Hebei Iron & Steel Begins Boosting Sales, Production at Serbian Mill
30 August 2016 - Nearly two months after acquiring Serbia’s ailing Železara Smederevo steel works, Hebei Iron & Steel has managed to lift the facility’s monthly sales and is targeting 1.7 million tons of production in 2017, reports Xinhua, China’s official news agency.
Magnetation Planning to Wind Down Operations
29 August 2016 - AK Steel Corp. will pay up to US$37.5 million to end its pellet supply agreement with its joint venture pellet producer, Magnetation LLC, which will begin to wind down its remaining operations unless it finds a buyer or new financing.
The Time is Now for Meaningful Commitments on Capacity Reductions, SMA Chairman Says
26 August 2016 - In spite of new trade laws and a spate of anti-dumping cases, unfairly traded steel imports continue to pose significant challenges for U.S. steelmakers, the chairman of the Steel Manufacturers Association said on Friday.
In Indiana, Steelworkers Rally Over U. S. Steel Layoffs, and ArcelorMittal Advances Optimization Plan
26 August 2016 - The United Steelworkers union is rallying this afternoon in downtown Gary, Ind., protesting U. S. Steel Corp.’s decision to layoff approximately three dozen maintenance workers at the Gary Works, reports The Times newspaper of northwest Indiana.
