Steel Market Update (SMU) first reported that the Chinese were exporting ferrous scrap in an article on April 19, 2017. With the forced shut-downs of induction and electric arc furnaces by the Chinese equivalent of our EPA, the net result is that there is an abundance of ferrous scrap needing a home. Some of that […] The post Chinese Ferrous Scrap Slowly Making its Way to Market appeared first on Steel Market Update.
It is the first week of May and the negotiations between the long and flat rolled steel mills have been in full swing all week. By late today (Thursday) word of how the scrap dealers had fared has been coming into our offices. The first region to settle was Detroit which was up $10 on […] The post Ferrous Scrap Pricing for May “Strong Sideways” to Slightly Higher appeared first on Steel Market Update.
Ferrous scrap prices settled in Detroit with prime grades (bundles/busheling) settling at $360 per gross ton. At the same time there is Chinese auto bundles for sale at very low prices FOB China. Chinese scrap exports are new for the Chinese and there are issues that need to be overcome before they become major suppliers […] The post How Soon Before Chinese Scrap Makes its Way to USA? appeared first on Steel Market Update.
The domestic steel mills did not cancel scrap orders for April delivery that had not yet arrived. This is a sign that the steel mills believe prices will be sideways to slightly higher for May delivery than what they negotiated for April. All is quiet as the steel mills and their scrap suppliers jockey for […] The post Final Thoughts appeared first on Steel Market Update.
SMU sources are expecting scrap prices to remain somewhat range-bound as the scrap dealers begin negotiations with the domestic steel mills for the month of May. Most dealers are forecasting May settlement prices to be within $10 per ton of what we saw in April and this can vary from region to region. We understand […] The post Ferrous Scrap Prices for May Expected to Trade Sideways appeared first on Steel Market Update.
We have an unusual market. What Steel Market Update is seeing is confidence by most of the steel mills. They feel there may be some minor adjustments in spot pricing as a few mills jockey to maintain their order books. At the same time, most steel buyers are being supportive of the price levels we […] The post SMU Price Ranges & Indices: Moving Lower from Here? appeared first on Steel Market Update.
Last week, Steel Market Update (SMU) conducted our mid-April flat rolled steel market trends analysis. Over the course of the week we invited 670 individuals representing approximately 650 companies to participate in our survey. The breakout of the participants was a little different than what we have been seeing over the course of a number […] The post SMU Flat Rolled Steel Market Trends Analysis appeared first on Steel Market Update.
Correction: In last Thursday’s issue of Steel Market Update we mistakenly referenced earnings from a previous period instead of the 1Q 2017 report. Here is what Steel Dynamics had to say in their announcement on April 19, 2017: FORT WAYNE, Ind., April 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Steel Dynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ/GS: STLD) today announced first quarter […] The post Correction: SDI Earnings for 1Q 2017 appeared first on Steel Market Update.
Steel Market Update is asked many times where we think flat rolled steel prices are heading. Our current SMU Price Momentum Indicator is at “Neutral” which means we believe the market to be in transition and, prices could move in either direction from this point. We adjusted our indicator just recently from Higher to Neutral […] The post Flat Rolled Steel Market “Sloppy” appeared first on Steel Market Update.
Scrap dealers are pointing at the order book at the domestic mills as one of the main reasons why ferrous scrap prices inched back after the domestic mills initially pushed for shred and obsolete grades to be lower by $30 per gross ton. The mills could not get enough dealers to fill their scrap order […] The post Scrap Prices Slip Less Than Originally Thought appeared first on Steel Market Update.