A new US-backed structure is attempting to turn critical minerals inventory from a cost burden into a strategic asset. Project Vault combines pooled demand, private governance and capped-return financing to create a shared supply buffer—and potentially the first steps toward price discovery in fragmented markets.

US steel mills were operating in April 2026 at their highest capacity utilization rate since 2024, but because many domestic producers have gone long on contracts this year, buyers continued to report difficulty in securing tonnages of steel hot-rolled coil on the spot market.

The US domestic Galvalume price increased by $30 per ton in April despite soft end demand. The coated price boosted solely based on continuing strength in the hot-rolled coil market, sources said.

Fastmarkets has launched three new critical minerals prices on Friday May 1 to improve transparency in the US market. The additional prices are: MB-BI-0004 – Bismuth 99.99%, ddp US, $/lbMB-IN-0005 – Indium 99.99%, ddp US, $/kgMB-GA-0003 – Gallium 99.99%, ddp US $/kg The launch of the bismuth and indium price assessments follow a consultation period […]

The US has stepped up calls for its allies to accept higher costs for sourcing critical minerals outside China, arguing that supply chain security must take precedence over price efficiency – a stance that is reshaping expectations across metals markets but has yet to translate into durable pricing support.

Fastmarkets has corrected its EN-BD-0032 Renewable diesel, del Los Angeles, $/gal assessment that was published incorrectly on Friday April 17 due to a reporter error.

Fastmarkets has corrected the price for MB-STE-0524 Steel scrap No1 busheling, consumer buying price, delivered mill Chicago, $/gross ton, weekly composite, which was published incorrectly on April 10 and April 17 at $449 per gross ton due to a procedural error. It has been corrected to $450 per gross ton.

North American automotive OEMs are navigating one of the toughest cost pressures today: raw material volatility. As supply chains become more localized through USMCA, the IRA, and reshoring, manufacturers continue to face rising material price risks.

US steelmakers faced a “robust opportunity” in the data center construction boom, driven by rapid implementation of artificial intelligence software, according to Barry Zekelamn, executive chairman and chief executive officer of Zekelman Industries.

As major mills in the US steel industry inch closer to reinvestment decisions to reline their blast furnace operations, there is a window of opportunity to spur decarbonization in the already carbon-intensive sector, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) told Fastmarkets in an interview on Tuesday April 14.