Steel is a product that is commonly used in various industries such as construction, automobiles, oil and gas, and marine works. During the industrial revolution, a couple of European countries and the U.S. played a significant role in the development of steel.
With the current status of demands for the material, steel providers Wasatch Steel stress that, “Finding the right supplier for quality construction and fabrication materials can be a little difficult. You need to choose the one that offers a complete range of products and services.”
The cost of producing steel varies from country to country. Some of the factors that weighs are the price of procuring raw materials, energy, and labor and production costs. India, Brazil, Russia and Ukraine produce and sell at lower costs because the labor and energy costs are much lower in these countries.
Impact of Steel Pricing
The reason why steel is so much in demand and rising in price is because of the economic growth in many countries. Economic growth is the largest driver of the need for steel by far. Construction projects use a lot of steel and China is one of the biggest consumers of steel than Utah.
About 20 percent of the world’s steel is used by the construction industry. A key indicator to watch for in forecasting the future prices is vacant property rates. The more unused property exists, the less construction and demand for steel.
Foreign demand is another major factor. Currently, even though China is the biggest importer of steel, its self-sufficiency could lead to a fall in the prices. Increase in steel production capacity could also lead to lower prices. Higher capital spending by producers could lead to a reduction in the prices.
Coping with the Situation
Many steel companies in the U.S. are not only known for being large producers, but they also actively use pricing strategies to stay competitive and get a greater market share. These steel companies are not the only ones benefiting from higher prices. Suppliers enjoy profit rise as well, along with mill service companies and metals traders.
This dip in the prices of steel is beneficial for many industries: automobile and equipment manufacturers benefit the most. Shipping companies also enjoy low prices as they have to replace rusty, older ships. Oil and gas companies need steel for pipelines, and as major buyers, they benefited and invested when prices went lower.