Driven by an economic environment of looming recession and heightened inflation, metal prices closed 2022 lower than the beginning of the year. While the Russia-Ukraine war lingers to weigh on global economic activity, China’s reopening and relaxation of its zero-COVID policy has generated optimism on the demand outlook, supporting global metal prices.
Near-record low inventories and subdued imports owing to uncompetitive arbitrage and watchful ordering would also play a role in firming metal prices. Multiple price hikes posted by domestic mills that witnessed a reversal in their earnings in 2022 are pushing prices further.
Although the U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) is currently hovering at low levels, infrastructure spending and the automotive sector are expected to be the bright spots in the coming years. The $1.2 trillion U.S. Infrastructure Bill, aimed to add new funding for metal-intensive activities such as bridge rehabilitation, public transportation upgrades, and electric grid modernization, is expected to fuel demand. Non-residential construction should remain robust driven by the need for schools, hospitals, malls, and other commercial buildings to support residential communities. The automotive sector is poised to maintain positive momentum on the back of unmet, latent demand and easing supply chain constraints, albeit at a slower pace given shrinking wallet size and increased borrowing rates.
Various federal government measures, such as the ‘Buy America’ campaign and metal import duties, are helping ensure continued demand for domestically produced metals. Furthermore, an acceleration of reshoring trends would boost revenues for metal companies as construction of advanced manufacturing facilities is highly steel intensive. Local small-to-mid-sized fabricators are also expected to profit from these facilities requiring custom metal services.
