Industry News
Steel and metals industry briefs on plate supply, trade, shipbuilding, production and raw materials.
Dates refer to the original announcements.
Market Stock & Procurement Watch
ArcelorMittal reports third-quarter steel business results
ArcelorMittal published results for the quarter ended 30 September 2026. The group discussed changes in profitability and reported charges associated with idling operations at Kryvyi Rih in Ukraine.
US steel mill shipments ease in September
AISI reported about 8.05 million net tons of US steel mill shipments for September 2026, down 2.1% from August and slightly above September 2025.
China’s manufacturing PMI falls to 49.3 in October
China’s National Bureau of Statistics reported an October 2026 manufacturing PMI of 49.3, down from 50.1 in September. The new-orders component fell from 50.5 to 49.4.
Vale reports different trends in iron ore output and sales
Vale reported that third-quarter 2026 iron ore output fell 6% year on year, while iron ore sales increased 0.3%. The company also published updates on its copper and nickel businesses.
IMO’s Busan event examines implementation of shipping rules
The IMO reported on the World Maritime Day parallel event in Busan on 28 October 2026. The programme included discussions on putting maritime rules into practice and on implications for shipping and shipbuilding.
SSAB reports higher shipments in its third-quarter update
SSAB reported increased shipments in Special Steels and referred to the US plate market in its third-quarter 2026 update. The report also describes regional differences across the group.
US September steel imports and finished imports diverge
Preliminary figures reported by AISI put September 2026 US steel imports at about 2.36 million net tons, down 2.9% from August. Finished steel imports increased 1.1% to about 1.64 million net tons.
China’s mid-October Q235 plate and coil benchmarks soften
China’s circulation-market survey showed that 20 mm Q235 plate fell 0.8% and its specified Q235 hot-rolled coil series fell 0.9% from late September to mid-October 2026.
Hydro reviews its aluminium business in the third quarter
Hydro’s October report associated improved Aluminium Metal earnings with higher all-in metal prices. Lower sales volume and higher energy and carbon costs were among the offsetting factors it identified.
International Copper Study Group publishes October market bulletin
ICSG posted its October monthly copper release on 23 October 2026. The publication is a reference for tracking the copper market alongside other nonferrous metals.
September world crude steel output reaches 142.4 million tonnes
worldsteel reported 142.4 million tonnes of crude steel in September 2026 across 70 reporting countries, 0.2% below September 2025. Its regional table shows different directions across markets.
Nippon Steel announces its Kinki construction exhibition programme
Nippon Steel announced that it and seven group companies would take part in the Kinki construction technology exhibition in Osaka on 28 and 29 October 2026.
BHP publishes its September-quarter operational review
BHP published its review for the quarter ended 30 September 2026 on 20 October. The quarterly operating series provides an upstream reference for iron ore and copper supply.
ArcelorMittal outlines automotive steel exhibits in Germany
ArcelorMittal announced displays at three German industry events in October 2026. Its programme included automotive solutions using combinations of steel grades and thicknesses.
China reports 73.59 million tonnes of crude steel in September
China’s National Bureau of Statistics put September 2026 crude steel output at 73.59 million tonnes, up 0.1% year on year. January–September production was down 2.9% from the same period in 2025.
IMO and China hold maritime innovation seminar in Fuzhou
On 16 October 2026, the IMO reported on a seminar in Fuzhou co-hosted with Chinese maritime and transport partners. Participants discussed innovation and capacity building for sustainable shipping.
Alcoa reports higher sequential alumina and aluminium output
Alcoa reported third-quarter 2026 alumina output of 2.5 million tonnes, up 11% from the preceding quarter. Its aluminium output rose 2% to 649,000 tonnes.
Lloyd’s Register issues new ship retrofit guidance
LR published guidance on retrofit planning on 15 October 2026. The material covers practical constraints such as engine conversion, tank location and available onboard space.
China’s ferrous metals producer prices rise 0.2% in September
China’s statistics bureau reported a 0.2% month-on-month increase in September 2026 producer prices for ferrous metal smelting and rolling.
Rio Tinto reports on Simandou ramp-up and Oyu Tolgoi copper
Rio Tinto said its Simandou iron ore project reached an annualised operating rate of about 10 million tonnes during the third quarter of 2026. The same release reported higher year-to-date Oyu Tolgoi copper output.
SSAB breaks ground on a new quenching line in Oxelösund
SSAB marked the start of construction of its new quenching line in Sweden on 13 October 2026. The company says the line will expand capacity for advanced wear and protection steels, with production planned for 2030.
Steelie Awards highlight coating and life-cycle assessment work
worldsteel announced the 17th Steelie Awards winners on 12 October 2026. The projects included a coated sheet innovation from Nippon Steel and Hyundai Steel’s work on comparable life-cycle assessment methods.
worldsteel revises its steel demand outlook
worldsteel’s October 2026 forecast projects broadly flat global demand in 2026, followed by 1.7% growth in 2027. Its April forecast had anticipated a stronger recovery.
Tata Steel issues provisional second-quarter steel volumes
Tata Steel reported 6.21 million tonnes of crude steel production in India for the second quarter of FY2027. Its October release presents production and deliveries as separate measures.
Hydro outlines aluminium supply-chain plans at Düsseldorf exhibition
Hydro presented supply-chain investment and customer projects at ALUMINIUM 2026, held in Düsseldorf from 6 to 8 October. Its announcement discusses wire rod for power infrastructure and long-term customer contracts.
EU seeks feedback on the operation of its steel trade measure
The European Commission opened a targeted consultation on 28 September 2026 to assess the operation of the new steel regulation. Submissions closed on 11 October 2026.
August global crude steel output falls 1.2% year on year
worldsteel reported 144.2 million tonnes of crude steel from 70 reporting countries in August 2026. The total was 1.2% below August 2025.
EUROFER publishes a steel industry carbon cost scenario
Under its analysis of proposed EU ETS changes, EUROFER estimated that annual carbon costs for the steel sector could move from about €3.4 billion in 2026 to €8.2 billion in 2031.
Outokumpu outlines pilot plans for a chromium technology platform
Outokumpu unveiled EvoMaterials on 24 September 2026. The company says the technology is moving towards pilot production, initially focused on enriched ferrochrome and chromium metal.
EU announces provisional safeguards for grain-oriented electrical steel
The European Commission announced provisional safeguards on imports of grain-oriented electrical steel on 18 September 2026 after an investigation launched in March.
K Shipbuilding and LR to study an ethanol-fuelled tanker
K Shipbuilding and Lloyd’s Register announced a memorandum of understanding on 15 September 2026. The joint study considers an ethanol-fuelled medium-range tanker of around 50,000 dwt.
LR and MARIC unveil tanker concept with three fuel options
LR and the Marine Design and Research Institute of China reported an approval in principle for a roughly 114,000 dwt tanker concept. The design anticipates potential future conversion to LNG, methanol or ammonia.
LR grants approval in principle to an LNG bunkering vessel design
Lloyd’s Register awarded approval in principle to CSSC Huangpu Wenchong’s 12,500 m³ LNG bunkering vessel design. The September announcement concerns an independent assessment of the concept.
EU publishes evidence rules for steel melt and pour origin
The European Commission announced documentation rules for covered steel products on 31 August 2026. The implementing act applies from 1 October 2026.