Report Period: May 20 – May 27, 2026
Analyst: Amy SteelInsights (amyinsights.com)
📌 Core Insights Snapshot (Full Version Contains 8–10 Detailed Bulletins)
- HRC Rally Hits 19th Consecutive Week – Nucor raised its CSP 5/stto5/stto1,095/st, extending the historic streak. Tandem products surged to multi-year highs with CRC at $1,280/st and HDG at $1,260/st as mills successfully widened spreads.
- Spring Maintenance Outages Tighten Supply – US raw steel production eased to 1,870,000 NT (capacity utilisation 81.0% ), driven by a 100-day blast furnace reline at Gary Works and other planned outages. Service center inventories remain at multi‑year lows.
- USMCA Talks Launch — Tariffs Declared Permanent – The first formal US‑Mexico negotiating round opened in Mexico City. USTR Greer stated explicitly that steel tariffs are “going to stay” under any revamped USMCA, setting a hard negotiating baseline.
- Tin Mill & OCTG Trade Cases Advance – The USITC voted affirmatively on tin mill products from China, Taiwan, and Turkey (May 22) and filed its OCTG injury determination (May 18). Both sets of cases now move to DOC for preliminary dumping and subsidy calculations.
- Imports Trend Upward – April final import data showed total steel imports of 1,874,000 NT (+5.9% MoM), with finished market share at 16% . Mexican shipments jumped 33% MoM, and broad gains were recorded in coated sheet, rebar, and cold‑rolled products.
💰 Price Snapshot (Abbreviated)
Product This Week Trend Source
US Midwest HRC (SMU avg) $1,095/st ▲ SMU, May 26Nucor CSP HRC $1,095/st ▲ Nucor, May 26
US Midwest CRC (SMU avg) $1,280/st ▲ SMU, May 26US Midwest HDG (SMU avg) $1,260/st ▲ SMU, May 26
US Plate (SMU avg) $1,260/st ▲ SMU, May 26US Rebar (FOB mill) $800–820/st ⏸️ Kallanish, May 26
💡 Sample Actionable Advice
For Procurement Managers:
✅ Lock Q2–early Q3 flat-rolled requirements now — spring maintenance outages will constrain supply through August. A major blast furnace reline and other planned idlings are creating a structural supply deficit just as service center inventories hit multi‑year lows. Lead times are stretching to 5–11 weeks; waiting risks both higher prices and missed deliveries.
For Export Sales Managers:
✅ Quote CFR US with transparent Section 232 documentation — imports are trending up and compliance is your competitive edge. April imports rose to a 2026 high, with finished market share reaching 16% . US buyers facing extended domestic lead times are actively exploring import options. “Melt and pour” traceability and clear Annex classification are now mandatory credentials for capturing this demand.
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 anti‑dumping matrix showing which origins are blocked for which products, which compliant alternatives are available, and the exact specifications and end‑uses each can serve
- Detailed analysis of spring maintenance outages and their supply impact through Q3 2026
- Full breakdown of the USMCA negotiating round launch, USTR’s permanent‑tariff declaration, and the “unified tariff borders” proposal
- Mexico’s new permanent 10–35% tariffs on 220 steel products and what they mean for import competitiveness
- Dedicated week‑on‑week comparison of all key metrics against the prior May 13–20 period
- Exclusive “Buy/Sell/Hold” recommendations for 8 product categories, updated for the current market
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📧 Questions or Custom Analysis? Contact Amy directly: amy@amyinsights.com