All signs show that June stainless surcharges will be lower. China is lowering prices and expectations for June.

US stainless steel consumption reached 215,484 tons in January, up 7.4 percent from the same month last year, according to the latest figures from the Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA).

Just saw in the paper…. wait, i don”t read a paper. OK, I saw online today that the electric version of the Ford Focus hasn”t sold at all in the last 2 months. And in the previous 2 months, only about a dozen were sold. And that was to fleet customers!!

Many Chinese stainless steel mills are continuing with their production cuts in April due to low prices in the domestic spot market.

OK, we love to work in the metals distribution business. HOWEVER, Mega Millions jackpot has reach $476,000,000.

Now many of us would say “I would keep working”. Yeah, on my golf game.

US tool steel usage is on the rise, driven by stronger automotive demand, although imports are capturing an ever-larger slice, an industry analyst says. Grade like M2, H11, D2, s7 are all carried by Next Generation Metals, Inc. Give us a call at 866-364-3904

Global stainless steel output rose by 3.3% in 2011 as a strong final three months of the year compensated for some destocking in the third quarter of 2011, the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) said on March 21.

Yes, thats great. But, 2012 is NOW and business is not as strong as it was in 2011.

Cycles. I hate cycles.

The North American stainless steel market will struggle this year to repeat the explosive growth in consumption seen last year, according to an industry analyst.

U.S. steel exports has declined in March compared to the previous month, according to the latest data from the American Institute for International Steel, , which represents foreign producers. Exports declined 0.6 percent to 1.2 million tons in March, though they remained 6.4 percent ahead of the same month in 2011.

“Exports declined in March as exports to the NAFTA region slowed. Exports to the rest of the Western Hemisphere advanced slightly, as did exports to Asia, with increases in exports to China and Taiwan particularly notable in March,” says David Phelps, president of AIIS.

The slower rate of shipments to the NAFTA region is consistent with the pause experienced throughout the NAFTA markets late in the first quarter. Current conditions indicate steel demand growth in the NAFTA region will remain subdued for the time being, Phelps says.

For the first three months of the year, U.S. exports were up 17 percent to 3.7 million tons.

“An optimistic sign for U.S. steel exports is that, notwithstanding the significant decline in exports to Asia, demand for high quality U.S. steel has exhibited strength in both NAFTA and other Western Hemisphere markets. Continued economic growth in these important developing country markets gives reason for optimism for U.S. steel exports,” Phelps says.

See: http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6454/Steel-Exports-Decline-in-March.aspx