Trump’s steel tariffs aim to boost the US steel industry by taxing imported steel and encouraging domestic production. The goal is to make U.S. steel more competitive globally while addressing national security and trade concerns. However, the tariffs have caused international tension, reshaping trade ties and raising questions about costs for U.S. businesses relying on steel imports.

Here are the key takeaways from market participants on US ferrous scrap metal prices, market confidence, inventory and more from our January survey.

US President Donald Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday March 4 contained key strategic policy objectives that will have a direct impact on global metals markets. Fastmarkets takes a high-level view of the key strategies below: “They tariff us…we will tariff them.” The Trump administration will introduce reciprocal tariffs on all countries that levy duties […]

Tariffs on steel and aluminum will raise US car prices, increase production costs, and squeeze profit margins. Smaller car companies may struggle to compete, while retaliatory actions could disrupt the global auto market, reshaping manufacturing and trade industry-wide.

Trump’s tariffs on Canadian and Mexican metals have introduced significant instability to the U.S. metals sector. The 25% tariffs, coupled with retaliatory measures from Canada and Mexico, have fuelled price volatility, supply chain disruptions, and operational uncertainty across multiple industries. These trade policies are reshaping global market dynamics as stakeholders brace for long-term impacts on steel, aluminium, copper, and other metal commodities.

The Indian steel industry faces challenges as coking coal demand grows amid supply issues. Insights from Coaltrans India 2025 highlight India's reliance on Australian coal, rising met coke imports, and strategies like blending domestic coal with high-quality options.

Iron ore markets face major shifts as an oversupply looms in 2025, driven by weak demand from Chinese steel mills and changing pricing trends. Key players like Vale and Rio Tinto are tackling challenges such as fluctuating shipments, blending practices in China, and a competitive global market.

Pallet prices in the US market held steady this month amid uncertainty on how proposed tariffs under the Trump administration would play out. The tariffs, if sustained, could significantly worsen inflation, threatening the trust that many voters placed in Trump to lower prices. While the immediate effects on the US pallet system are limited, a […]

Graphite producers in Southeast Africa, including Madagascar, Mozambique and Tanzania, are becoming key players as global demand shifts away from China. Despite challenges like infrastructure and competition, growing demand for large graphite flakes and downstream processing signals a promising future for the region by 2025

Securing essential resources: Tackling supply chain challenges with strategic solutions and global alliances