Report Period: May 13 – May 20, 2026
Analyst: Amy SteelInsights (amyinsights.com)

📌 Core Insights Snapshot (Full Version Contains 8–10 Detailed Bulletins)

Rally Re-Accelerates – Nucor raised its HRC CSP $10/st to $1,090/st, marking the 18th consecutive weekly increase and a cumulative YTD gain of $140/st since January 20. CSI followed to $1,140/st. The early-May plateau was not a top — it was a consolidation before the next leg higher.
Capacity Utilisation Hits 82.2% — Highest Since May 2022. AISI reported raw steel production of 1,898,000 st for the week ending May 16, the highest output since March 2020. YTD production is up 6.5% YoY, with three of five regions increasing week-on-week.
OCTG Supply Tightens on Multiple Fronts – The USITC voted unanimously on May 15 to advance AD/CVD investigations against Austria, Taiwan, and UAE OCTG. Combined with the five-year extension of Chinese duties and CBSA’s Austrian dumping finding, North American tubular supply faces structural constraints.
USMCA Countdown Begins – The first formal US-Mexico bilateral round is set for May 25. The US has proposed “unified tariff borders” requiring Canada and Mexico to align external steel tariffs with Section 232, while a new DOC mechanism allows tariff reductions tied to US-based investment.
Service Center Inventories at 5-Year Low – Sheet inventories are at their lowest since May 2021, while 44% of buyers report increasing demand — the highest since June 2021. The resulting restocking cycle will sustain demand through at least mid-Q3.

💰 Price Snapshot (Abbreviated)

Product This Week Trend Source

US Midwest HRC (SMU avg) $1,090/st ▲ SMU, May 19

Nucor CSP HRC $1,090/st ▲ Nucor, May 18US Galvalume (SMU avg) $1,255/st ▲ SMU, May 19US Plate (SMU avg) $1,245/st ⏸️ SMU, May 19

US Rebar (FOB mill) $800–820/st ⏸️ SMM, May 19

Baltic Dry Index 3,054 ▼ Baltic Exchange, May 20

💡 Sample Actionable Advice

For Procurement Managers:
✅ Lock Q2–early Q3 flat-rolled requirements immediately. Lead times have stretched to 5–11 weeks (average 7.0 weeks), and mills at 82.2% capacity are running late. Sheet inventories at a five-year low mean the restocking cycle hasn’t started yet. Every week of delay costs money and delivery certainty.

For Export Sales Managers:
✅ Quote aggressive CFR US — the import conversation has reopened. With US buyers facing extended lead times and depleted inventories, the spread between landed import cost and domestic pricing is attracting interest for the first time since April. Transparent Section 232 classification and “melt and pour” compliance documentation are now competitive differentiators.

Unlock the Full Report to Access:

Complete pricing tables for HRC, CRC, HDG, Galvalume, Plate, Rebar, OCTG, and Billet across the US, Canada, and Mexico
In-depth analysis of Nucor’s re-acceleration and what it signals for Q3 pricing
Full breakdown of AISI April SIMA data, including the 109% surge in Mexican imports
OCTG enforcement tracker: USITC vote, CBP rulings, and CBSA findings
USMCA preparation guide with “unified tariff borders” scenario analysis
Manzanillo port disruption update and routing alternatives
Dedicated week-on-week comparison of all key metrics vs. May 6–13
Exclusive “Buy/Sell/Hold” recommendations for 8 product categories

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📧 Questions or Custom Analysis? Contact Amy directly: amy@amyinsights.com