Amid the current environment of decreasing metal prices and fluctuating demand, a cautious optimism remains in the U.S. market due to the significant tailwinds expected within the infrastructure, automotive, and energy sectors in the mid to long term. Although the recovery in China, both the largest producer and consumer of steel, remains uncertain, the country’s key manufacturing indicators are certainly encouraging, suggesting its economic stabilization measures, including interest rate reductions and consumer credit-friendly initiatives are proving effective.
In the U.S., implementation of federal legislation such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and CHIPS and Science Act are expected to further bolster metals demand, given the scale of planned investments and incentives aimed at encouraging reshoring, strengthening the domestic supply chain, and revitalizing aging infrastructure.
Additionally, the growing emphasis on decarbonization is fueling green steel demand, as energy storage installation and new facility construction are metal-intensive activities.
While the overall outlook remains positive, the combination of high interest rates and tighter credit is weighing on demand. Further, elevated input costs such as labor and energy coupled with declining metal prices are contributing to a decrease in producers' earnings.
Within automotive, a sector expected to contribute significantly to the growth trajectory in metals, the United Auto Workers (UAW) is on strike at select Big Three auto plants, costing the large OEMs collectively an estimated $1.12 billion(1) in just two weeks. The strike which began in mid-September is giving rise to production cuts which translate to reduced daily steel usage of approximately 6,000 tons(2). In addition, spot prices for benchmark coiled sheet steel, commonly used to make automotive parts, have fallen 40% since April.
