American Metals Supply Chain Institute

US Midwest HRC index remains above $950 per ton to end week Fastmarkets Fastmarkets Metals and Mining By Mark Burgess 14 Mar 2025 Hot-rolled coil prices in the US Midwest were steady above $47 per hundredweight ($950 per short ton) on Friday March 14, but some market participants are still questioning whether a static demand environment will make this a short-term upswing. Subscribers can access pricing data at this link: https://fmrkts.com/3XRjIBG Inputs were collected in the range of $47-50 per cwt in the buyer and seller sub-indices, representing deals, deals heard and assessments of general spot market activity. Heard in the market Sources reported deals, or deals heard, ranging from $47.50 per cwt to $50 per cwt, but confirmed that most were small-tonnage purchases. Demand is still said to be sporadic, with buyers who are capable of surviving on contract tons currently avoiding the upward trajectory pricing environment in today’s spot market. Uncertainty with the scope and ramifications of the constantly evolving tariff situation continues to roil the market, sources said. Lead times are being reported at six to eight weeks, with April books closed and May bookings yet to be opened by some mills, according to sources. Quote of the day “There are still a lot of moving parts out there, but the underlying reality of consumption makes me think we’re on a 90 days of terror ride and then it’s over,” a distributor source said. #steel #HRC #HotRolledCoilPrices #MidwestHRC #commodityprices

Ford Motor Company #aluminum #aluminium #metals #tariffs #trade

???Have you listened to the latest episode of Fast Forward? We're back for season 2 with a deep dive into one of today’s most pressing global issues: Securing critical mineral supply chains. ?? Hear from our host Andrea Hotter and her expert panel of guests, including Gracelin Baskaran, PhD, Ashley Zumwalt-Forbes, Ben Steinberg and our very own William Adams. Tune in to learn more about: ?? How China controls up to 90% of critical mineral resources ?? The role of allied partnerships with nations like Canada and Australia ?? Why streamlining the US’s 29-year permitting process is vital for progress ?? Strategic actions to balance current challenges with future innovations Don’t miss this insightful discussion about shaping the future of supply chain resilience. Listen to the episode now: https://fmrkts.com/43B96ut Subscribe to Fast Forward on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Amazon Music. #FastForward #CriticalMinerals #SupplyChains

Tariffs?on U.S. steel will give Canadian steel maker Algoma an opportunity to acquire new customers from the domestic market, Michael Garcia, CEO Algoma steel said in an interview today. Algoma has paused exports to US until the Lutnick-Doug Ford meeting that could throw some clarity on where tariffs are heading. Shares of steel makers on either side of the border rose today over tariffs and counter-tariffs.

US aluminium buyers will pay a 25% import duty from today on all products from all countries "without exception or exemption" The tariff cost will travel down the aluminium production chain until it hits the end-user. That's how Trump's existing 10% import tariff (with exemptions) has played out. This time is unlikely to be different. Bad news for American beer drinkers as aluminium tariffs kick in: https://lnkd.in/eJDcZ4HH

Commodity trading profits of $95 billion last year provide a “baseline for future growth,” even as markets normalize following a period of extreme volatility, according to?Oliver Wyman LLC. While 2024 was the sector’s third-most profitable year on record, gross margins were 20% to 25% lower than 2023, the consultancy said in its annual report on the industry. Trading houses are coming off by far the most profitable period in their histories after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions turbocharged volatility and created supply shortfalls of energy, agricultural goods and metals. Those bumper earnings have been invested in assets like?oil refineries?and?gas plants, while the trading companies have also paid out?billions?to the executives that own their shares. The sector will have further opportunities, Oliver Wyman said. “Globalization, the energy transition, and geopolitical shifts will continue to create the optionality, volatility and risks that drive margins for traders,” the consultants said. However, that period — where companies beefed up their risk, analytics and finance teams as well as paying more to hire additional traders — has left the industry with much higher costs. The cost per trader employed has risen more than 25% since 2019, while overall operating expenses at trading houses have climbed by 45%, according to the Oliver Wyman report. https://lnkd.in/eqvMAwUK

Builders Stockpile Lumber, Swap Out Materials to Work Around Tariffs Companies buy bulk supplies of windows, cabinetry and appliances but face high storage costs The Wall Street Journal Rebecca Picciotto Key Points - Builders are stockpiling lumber and other materials to avoid potential price increases from tariffs, but this strategy comes with risks if demand for new construction dips. - To mitigate the impact of tariffs, builders are also considering using cheaper materials and designing smaller homes. - The uncertainty surrounding tariffs is causing frustration and confusion among builders, who are concerned about the potential impact on home prices and their ability to secure financing. #steel #metals #tariffs #lumber #wood #forestproducts #timber #constructionmaterials #commodities #trade #agriculture #buildingmaterials #construction #markets #economy #commerce #business #economy #inflation #supplychain

Brazilian steel slab export prices fall further amid trade uncertainties, tariff concerns Fastmarkets Fastmarkets Metals and Mining Published by: Ana Enis 7 Mar 2025 Brazilian steel slab export prices continued to decline in the week to Friday March 7, facing ongoing trade uncertainties and tariff concerns, sources told Fastmarkets. Subscribers can access pricing data at this link: https://fmrkts.com/43AQ5bB The market remains under pressure, with participants closely monitoring potential trade agreements that could impact prices — mainly regarding exports to the US. Deals were reported at the lower end of the range, with transactions at $480 per tonne following the Brazilian Carnival holiday. One buyer source reinforced the expectation of future quota arrangements and exemptions from the 25% import tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump. However, they cautioned that such measures would only have a meaningful effect once the dust settles. “At this initial stage, there are many tensions involved, the impact on slab prices is expected to be significant, and the US' goal is to really hurt the markets at this moment,” the source said. Another source noted that higher offers remain contingent on the possibility of a quota exemption. “In fact, this is how we are closing deals: before the vessel arrives at the destination port, if there is a quota for the US 25% import tariff, the price will automatically be adjusted and rise,” a seller source said. “for now, we are still closing deals in a lower price range.” Despite optimism surrounding strong HRC prices in the US, the immediate challenge remains the difficulty of placing slab exports in key markets. A market participant acknowledged that some price expectations are speculative and dependent on favorable policy changes. “Brazil doesn’t have the leverage for retaliation. It’s very likely there will be an agreement between the countries, and we’ll return to the previous level, which is better for everyone,” the source added. While Brazilian President Lula da Silva mentioned possible retaliatory measures against the US to protect the domestic steel market, the government, along with the steel sector, continues to express a preference for dialogue and awaits future negotiations with the US government to review Brazil's tariffs. For now, the export market remains under pressure, and slab prices continue to face downward pressure amid ongoing uncertainty over trade policies. #slab #steelslab #Brazil #export #commodityprices

Breaking news: The EU has retaliated against Donald Trump’s 25% metals tariffs with measures affecting up to €26bn of US goods https://on.ft.com/41A0SQA

US President Donald Trump’s protectionist trade policies will likely boost demand for credit insurance as firms grapple with non-payment threats, experts predict. In its latest Export Credit Business Confidence Trends Index, the Berne Union industry association reveals credit and political risk insurers are anticipating a jump in demand for short-term policies. “While the bases for this optimism vary among providers, many agree that opportunities abound in supporting exporters amid a new wave of trade protectionism,” the report says.