Association News

Steel and aluminum shipments in March increased by double digits in both the U.S. and Canada, according to the monthly report from the Metals Service Center Institute, Rolling Meadows, Ill.

U.S. steel mills shipped 6.7 million tons of steel in February, a 9.2 percent decrease from January, the American Iron and Steel Institute reported. Shipments were down 13.3 percent decrease compared with the same month in 2020.

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in March, representing the 10th straight month of growth, according to the latest Report on Business from the Institute for Supply Management. The PMI in March was at 64.7 percent, an increase of 3.9 percentage points from February.

Pacemaker Steel and Piping Company has joined the North American Steel Alliance as its newest member. NASA is North America’s largest steel purchasing cooperative.

President Joe Biden unveiled a $2 trillion infrastructure plan in Pittsburgh. The American Jobs Plan would provide significant new funding for infrastructure investment.

Finished steel imports into the U.S. of 2.7 million tons were down 11.1 percent through the first two months of the year, the American Iron and Steel Institute reported. Total imports were down 7.5 percent to 4.3 million tons.

The OECD remains concerned about global overcapacity and other structural issues preventing a sustainable recovery of the steel industry. The OECD conducted its 89th session over the course of four days earlier in March.

World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the Brussels-based World Steel Association was 150.2 million metric tons in February, a 4.1 percent increase compared with the same month in 2020.

FABTECH Mexico has again fallen victim to the coronavirus, with the 2021 event now canceled. FABTECH is the leading trade show for the North American metals processing community, presented jointly by the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, SME, Precision Metalforming Association, American Welding Society and Chemical Coaters Association International.

Global stainless steel meltshop production in 2020 decreased 2.5 percent to 50.9 million metric tons, the International Stainless Steel forum reported. Global production was up 13.7 percent in the fourth quarter to 14.1 million tons.