JSW Steel USA’s production of its first fully degassed 12-inch slab at its mill in Mingo Junction, Ohio, could reduce the company’s reliance on imported slab, according to information obtained by Fastmarkets, raising questions about future demand for Brazilian exports at a time when the global slab market is already facing weaker demand and increasing competition.

The Mexican containerboard market saw a rapid shift in June as reduced US paper exports forced buyers to refocus on domestic supply, triggering price increases.

US lumber yards substitute Southern Yellow Pine for dwindling Canadian and European softwood imports, impacting grade availability and market dynamics across the country.

The threat of new US tariffs has slightly reduced Brazilian softwood molding orders, but resilient market demand is preventing a major price drop.

Tissue jumbo/parent roll prices were largely unchanged in the United States in June, as higher domestic supply and steady demand kept the market balanced.

US trade union United Auto Workers and the Dauch Corporation, formerly known as American Axle, reached a tentative agreement on Wednesday June 10 that could restore the loss in demand for automotive steel resulting from a workers’ strike.

Ford’s launch of Ford Energy reflects a clear strategic reset rather than simple diversification. The company is responding to a widening gap between earlier EV assumptions and current market reality, where demand growth has slowed, subsidy support has become less reliable, and large-scale battery investments are now underutilized.

The sharp rise in demand for lithium is outpacing the growth of an independent US supply chain, Ian Rodger, chief executive officer of lithium development company US Elemental, told Fastmarkets in an exclusive interview on Wednesday June 3.

The Trump administration has concluded its investigation against Brazil under Section 301, with the country’s Trade Representative Jamieson Greer proposing a 25% tariff on the South American country’s imports but putting forth a list of exempted items.

A United Auto Workers (UAW) strike at the American Axle factory in Three Rivers, Michigan, that began on Monday June 1 could lead to reduced demand for automotive steel if not resolved quickly, but analysts disagree on whether it will ultimately have a significant impact.