Key Takeaways Nucor raised its weekly CSP HRC base price, and one mill is priced well above the rest of the field. The size of that premium is only part of the story. Two of this week's major demand indicators point in opposite directions, and only one of them can...
Key Takeaways August delivered a clear rebound in U.S. carbon steel imports, but the mix of products behind the headline points to a more complicated story than a simple return to higher volumes. Canada and Mexico remain major suppliers to the U.S. market, yet their rolling 12-month shipments have moved...
Key Takeaways Nucor moved its CSP HRC base price this week, and the weekly indicators show a pattern that does not match what the individual headlines suggest. The paid section explains the direction the data points and why. Zinc reached a level not seen in more than four years, but...
U.S. Steel is investing $28.3 million to upgrade the pickle line at its Great Lakes Works in Michigan, improving its ability to process advanced high-strength steel. The company announced September 29 that it had accepted delivery of a fiber-optic laser beam welder, with dual-entry shears scheduled for installation during a 30-day outage beginning in October.
The welder joins successive coils to keep steel moving continuously through the line, while the shears trim coil ends before welding and can serve two passlines. U.S. Steel said the upgrades will improve operating efficiency, production reliability and product quality. Employees will also receive 3D virtual training and on-the-job skills development.
U.S. raw steel production totaled 1.801 million net tons for the week ending October 3, down 2.4% from 1.845 million net tons in the prior week, according to American Iron and Steel Institute data. Capacity utilization also declined to 78.3%, compared with 80.5% a week earlier.
Despite the weekly reduction, output remained 4.8% above the level recorded in the comparable week of 2025. Adjusted year-to-date production reached 71.967 million net tons through October 3, with average capacity utilization standing at 79.0%.
Three U.S. companies secured Defense Logistics Agency contracts with a combined announced value of approximately $1.8 billion to supply steel and other metals to the military. Metallus received a $995 million, five-year contract for High Fragmentation 1 steel used in large-caliber artillery and mortar projectiles, running through September 24, 2031. The company received an initial delivery order worth approximately $125 million on September 29.
T&T Materials and TW Metals share a separate $750 million contract for commercially available metal products. That agreement covers an initial two years, with four possible two-year extensions, and drew 18 bids; the Metallus contract was awarded without competition. The announced contract values total $1.745 billion, rounded to $1.8 billion in the article’s headline, and should not be confused with the value of orders already placed.
Source: Yahoo
U.S. Steel has presented the United Steelworkers with a revised five-year labor contract proposal that the company says would deliver 19.3% total wage growth over the agreement’s term, including a 5% increase in the fifth year. The offer would require no health care premiums from USW-represented employees, and U.S. Steel says it has withdrawn its proposal to cap health care costs. The company also describes the offer as including a long-term capital investment commitment intended to protect jobs and strengthen its facilities. These are terms of a proposal, not an agreement reached by the two sides.
The USW bargaining committee was scheduled to review the new offer Wednesday afternoon, but had not publicly responded when the report was published. Union representatives have recently said significant differences remain in negotiations. USW-represented employees continue working under the contract that expired September 1 while talks proceed. A new agreement would cover thousands of workers at U.S. Steel operations nationwide, including roughly 2,000 at the Minntac and Keetac iron ore mines in Minnesota.
Source: USS
Stelco plans to indefinitely idle its cold rolled and coated steel finishing operations at Hamilton Works in Ontario, with the wind-down expected to begin October 9. The Cleveland-Cliffs subsidiary said U.S. tariffs have reduced demand for those products and that production will be concentrated at its Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke. Up to 500 Hamilton employees could be affected, although Stelco says it will offer them jobs at Lake Erie Works. The president of United Steelworkers Local 1005 estimates that about 350 steelworkers will be laid off. Cleveland-Cliffs said the change will alter Stelco’s product mix but will not reduce its overall steel production tonnage.
The announcement drew a sharp response from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who called Stelco’s decision a betrayal of workers and said the government would pursue Cleveland-Cliffs “to the full extent of the law.” Carney’s statement signals a possible legal response, but it does not establish that a case has been filed or that the company violated any obligation. Stelco said demand for its cold rolled and galvanized products in traditional markets fell nearly 25% in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the 2024 quarterly average, including a 10% decline in Canada.
Source: Bloomberg
ArcelorMittal says it cannot safely restart operations at its Kryvyi Rih steel plant in Ukraine following repeated missile strikes. The facility was hit four times over five weeks, most recently on September 21, causing extensive damage to production equipment. The attacks killed five people and injured 17 employees, including one who remains in critical condition.
The company is discussing the plant’s future with the Ukrainian government and is focusing on preserving its infrastructure so production may be able to resume when conditions allow. ArcelorMittal expects to record a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $1 billion, primarily tied to the facility’s property and equipment. Since the war began in February 2022, the company says it has provided more than $700 million to support operations and employees in Ukraine.
U.S. Steel has rejected a comprehensive contract proposal submitted by the United Steelworkers, leaving the two sides still divided as negotiations approach a September 25 target date. The USW says its proposal addressed key priorities including wages, health care, job protections, retirement, and investment commitments at union-represented facilities. The current labor agreement, which had been scheduled to expire September 1, was extended for 30 days to allow bargaining to continue.
Health care remains one of the central unresolved issues. The union has said U.S. Steel continues to pursue changes that could shift a larger share of medical costs to employees, while also objecting to proposed changes in successorship language that protects pay, benefits, and contract terms if ownership changes. U.S. Steel’s July proposal included a five-year agreement, annual wage increases that would compound to 18.2% by the final year, and a $4,000 ratification bonus for eligible workers. The company has said its goal is to reach an agreement that recognizes employees’ contributions and supports the long-term future of the company and its workforce.
US steel service center shipments increased 11.6% in August 2026 compared with the same month in 2025, according to MSCI Metals Activity data. The gain reflects a stronger August for US steel distribution activity and marks a significant year-over-year increase in material moving through service center channels.
The August result indicates improved demand across the US steel service center market as distributors and customers took in higher shipment volumes than they did one year earlier. The increase provides a positive signal for steel consumption through the distribution sector heading into the fall, though the report does not break out performance by specific steel product category or end-use market.
US imports of cold rolled coil totaled 55,843 metric tons in July 2026, down 35.9% from June and 44.5% below the volume imported in July 2025, according to preliminary US Department of Commerce census data. Import value fell to $51.1 million during the month, compared with $81.3 million in June and $97.2 million one year earlier. The decline points to a sharp reduction in imported CRC availability entering the US market during July, both on a monthly and year-over-year basis.
Vietnam was the largest supplier of cold rolled coil to the United States in July, shipping 17,247 metric tons, up from 14,172 metric tons in June and well above the 4,795 metric tons shipped in July 2025. Canada supplied 12,619 metric tons, followed by the Netherlands with 7,233 metric tons, South Korea with 6,629 metric tons, and Turkey with 4,406 metric tons. Despite stronger shipments from Vietnam, total CRC imports fell substantially as inflows from other sources declined during the month.
US slab imports totaled 581,336 metric tons in July 2026, increasing 14.4% from 508,178 metric tons in June, according to preliminary US Department of Commerce census data. Volumes were also 37.1% higher than the 423,970 metric tons imported in July 2025, signaling a notable year-on-year increase in foreign semi-finished steel deliveries. By value, slab imports reached $345.3 million during the month, up from $307.5 million in June and well above the $224.8 million recorded in July last year.
Brazil remained the largest overseas supplier of slabs to the US market in July, shipping 223,892 metric tons, compared with 200,364 metric tons in June. Brazil’s shipments were below the 247,713 metric tons recorded in July 2025, though the overall monthly increase in US slab imports was supported by volumes from other key suppliers. Mexico supplied 96,228 metric tons in July, followed by Indonesia at 72,814 metric tons and Canada at 62,229 metric tons. The rise in slab inflows reflects stronger demand for imported semi-finished material from US mills and processors during the month.
Preliminary US Department of Commerce census data indicates that US steel imports totaled approximately 2.06 million metric tons in July 2026, rising 7.8% from June and edging up 1.2% compared with July 2025. The value of those imports reached about $2.0 billion, increasing from $1.9 billion in the prior month but remaining below the $2.2 billion reported in July last year. South Korea was the largest supplier of imported steel during the month, shipping 504,221 metric tons to the United States. Canada ranked second with 254,195 metric tons, followed by Brazil at 229,535 metric tons and Mexico at 174,489 metric tons. The monthly gain points to a stronger inflow of foreign material after a softer June, although the modest year-on-year increase suggests total import volumes remained relatively close to 2025 levels.
By product category, semi-finished steel imports rose to 625,704 metric tons in July, compared with 559,708 metric tons in June and 490,925 metric tons in the same month last year. Long product imports also increased substantially, reaching 477,565 metric tons versus 370,427 metric tons in June, while pipe and tube imports climbed to 432,164 metric tons from 375,427 metric tons in the previous month. Flat product imports moved lower, however, falling to 448,436 metric tons in July from 525,116 metric tons in June and trailing the 711,500 metric tons imported in July 2025. According to American Iron and Steel Institute estimates, imports represented 17% of the US steel market in July and accounted for an estimated 16% share during the first seven months of 2026.
Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on approximately C$27.6 billion worth of U.S.-origin imports took effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, September 8. The measures apply to 629 tariff classifications and impose duties of 15%, 25%, or 50%, with the rate generally designed to match the U.S. tariff applied to the corresponding Canadian product. The action follows the breakdown of Canada-U.S. trade negotiations and Washington’s 50% tariffs on a broad range of Canadian exports. Goods that were already in transit to Canada when the measures began are exempt.
The highest 50% rate applies to major industrial and consumer-product categories, including U.S. steel, aluminum and iron products, certain dairy products such as milk, cream and whey, plastics, paper and pulp products, cosmetics and beauty products, furniture, clothing, motorcycles, smartphones and some other electronics. A 25% tariff applies to goods including cheese and curd, household appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines, softwood lumber, carpets and some steel derivative products. The 15% tier covers selected agricultural and industrial goods, including certain farm equipment, forklifts, industrial molds, HVAC equipment and other targeted imports. Existing Canadian counter-tariffs on U.S. automobiles, including a 25% tariff, remain in force separately from today’s new measures.
U. S. Steel has returned Blast Furnace No. 14 at Gary Works in Indiana to service following a $350 million reline and modernization project. The furnace, the largest at Gary Works and across U. S. Steel’s domestic operations, can produce more than 2 million metric tons of hot metal annually, strengthening the company’s ability to supply steel customers and support U.S. manufacturing demand.
The project involved replacing the furnace’s refractory lining and restoring critical systems for furnace gas handling, cooling water, hoisting and hot-blast stoves. More than 1 million labor hours were completed by employees, contractors and project partners, with no days-away injuries recorded during the work. U. S. Steel said the investment is intended to improve operating reliability, support safe production and extend the productive life of the No. 14 furnace.
The United Steelworkers announced that work will continue at U.S. Steel and Cleveland-Cliffs under 30-day extensions of the companies’ current basic labor agreements. Reached as the agreements approached their September 1 expiration, the extensions maintain current contract terms and avert an immediate work stoppage while negotiations continue. The arrangement is an extension of the bargaining process, not a tentative agreement or a final settlement.usw
The USW said its negotiating committees will remain at the table with both companies to pursue new agreements covering represented employees. The union did not release specific details on outstanding proposals involving pay, benefits, pensions, investment commitments, or job security, nor did it set a target date for reaching new contracts. The additional month nevertheless creates a defined window for the parties to continue discussions without disrupting operations.usw
Cleveland-Cliffs separately said it respects the USW and the ongoing bargaining process, and that it remains committed to reaching an agreement that supports both its workforce and a competitive, sustainable business. Cliffs’ existing agreement was extended until October 1. U.S. Steel did not appear to issue a separate public announcement detailing its position on the extension; the USW’s release remains the clearest public statement covering both companies’ agreement to continue bargaining and maintain operations during the 30-day period.
United States imports of plates in coil fell sharply in June 2026, according to preliminary Department of Commerce census data. Import volume totaled 52,611 metric tons, a decline of 18.2% from May and 37.5% below the June 2025 level. The value of those imports dropped to $34.17 million, compared with $41.14 million in May and $54.70 million a year earlier.
The figures point to a meaningful month-over-month retreat in inbound plate in coil supply, while the much larger year-over-year decline indicates that import activity in June ran substantially below the pace seen during the same month in 2025.
Canada remained the largest foreign supplier of plate in coil to the United States during June, shipping 12,815 metric tons, up from 11,172 metric tons in May but far below the 25,561 metric tons shipped in June 2025.
Origin | June 2026 volume |
|---|---|
Canada | 12,815 mt |
Vietnam | 12,017 mt |
South Korea | 10,917 mt |
Algeria | 4,894 mt |
Brazil | 4,534 mt |
Together, Canada, Vietnam, South Korea, Algeria, and Brazil accounted for the bulk of June’s plate in coil import volume, with Canadian shipments holding the top position despite their significant decline from the prior year.
Why it matters: Plate buyers evaluating offshore supply are looking at a materially different origin mix than the one that existed a year ago. Canada retains the top position on volume, but at roughly half its June 2025 shipment level, and the countries filling the next positions are not the traditional set. Sourcing decisions built on last year’s origin assumptions do not match this year’s flows.
Total carbon steel imports increased slightly in July, climbing 6.1% from June to 1.713 million tons. Carbon flat rolled imports declined sharply, however, sliding 22.7% from June to 259,767 tons. July flat rolled imports were down an even sharper 32.4% compared to July 2025.
Within flat rolled, all three product groups saw sharp declines from June:
Cold rolled fell 39.5%, the sharpest decline of the three.
Hot Rolled fell 25.4%.
Coated fell 11.3%.
Within coated, hot-dipped Galvanized imports slipped to a 1,865 tons per day rate, the lowest level in more than two decades.
Year-to-date carbon flat rolled imports of 1.840 million tons are now down 37.2% compared to the first seven months of 2025.
US line pipe imports totaled 55,896 metric tons in June 2026, rising 35.1 percent from May but slipping 1.6 percent from June 2025, according to final US Department of Commerce census data. Import value increased to $57.2 million from $48.8 million in May, though it remained below the $62.8 million recorded a year earlier. South Korea was the leading supplier at 26,398 mt, followed by India with 8,793 mt, Ukraine with 7,145 mt and Mexico with 5,380 mt
Cleveland-Cliffs plans to invest $1 billion to modernize its Middletown Works steel plant in Ohio, a project expected to preserve 2,300 jobs and maintain the operation’s roughly 3 million tons of annual raw steelmaking capacity. The US Department of Energy and Cleveland-Cliffs are each expected to contribute $500 million, with spending planned over the next four years. Steel production is expected to continue during construction, which will include upgrades to the blast furnace, material-handling systems and artificial intelligence-based process controls.wtrf
The investment also includes a cogeneration facility designed to capture blast furnace gas and convert it into electricity and steam for the mill. Cleveland-Cliffs said the system should reduce reliance on externally purchased power and lower operating costs. Work is expected to begin in the coming weeks, with the blast furnace rebuild slated for completion in the first quarter of 2030. More than 1,500 workers, including local union building-trades members, are expected to be involved during peak construction activity.
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