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.

Latin America's apparent steel consumption is expected to remain broadly stalled in 2026 before recovering more meaningfully in 2027, but the region's steel industry continues to face mounting pressure from rising imports and historically weak production levels, according to Latin American steel association Alacero.

As Mexico seeks to strengthen domestic manufacturing supply chains and reduce its reliance on imported steel products, special bar quality (SBQ) steel has emerged as one of the segments offering the greatest growth potential for local producers, according to TYASA’s three chief executive officers, whom Fastmarkets sat down with in an exclusive interview to discuss the company’s new SBQ rolling mill.

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.

Lack of standardisation, certifications and market practises is creating growing uncertainty across green steel markets, with implications for pricing, procurement and credibility.

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.

The newly signed Mexico-EU (EU) trade deal could signal a shift in steel trade toward the EU, but Mexican steelmakers will still prefer trade within North America, a steel producer told Fastmarkets.

USMCA-driven localization is strengthening automotive supply chains, improving resilience and reducing certain cost risks. But as production spans multiple stages across the US–Mexico corridor, OEMs need clearer visibility into how costs build across regions to maintain margin control.

European buyers were still seeking Ukrainian steel despite the recent rollout of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, but constraints on production during wartime were preventing mills from fulfilling the demand, the industry said.

Vingroup Corp subsidiary VinMetal and UK-based Primetals Technologies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Thursday May 7 to cooperate on the development of VinMetal’s high-tech integrated steel complex in Vietnam’s Ha Tinh province, according to local media reports.