[SMM Steel] The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) urged the USTR to impose cumulative tariffs under the Section 301 investigation targeting economies linked to global steel overcapacity. AISI highlighted record Chinese steel exports of 131 million mt in 2025 and rising shipments from India, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, and Mexico. The institute argued that subsidized exports and redirected trade flows are pressuring the US steel market. If approved, additional Section 301 tariffs could be added on top of existing Section 232 duties, potentially lifting total US steel tariffs on some countries to 60-75%.

The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that US steel mills shipped 7.74 million net tons in March 2026, marking a 10.9% increase from the 6.98 million net tons shipped in February, though down 0.6% compared to March 2025. Total shipments for the first quarter of 2026 reached 21.82 million net tons, a 1.6% decrease year-on-year. Specifically, shipments of corrosion-resistant steel rose by 12%, cold rolled sheets by 11%, and hot rolled sheets by 6% compared to the previous month. The significant monthly rebound indicates a seasonal recovery in manufacturing and construction demand, though the slight year-on-year decline suggests the market is still adjusting to broader economic cooling compared to the previous year.

On April 9, 2026, the Japanese Cabinet officially approved the latest amendment to the Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Act (commonly known as the "Waste Cleansing Act"). The core of the amendment is to upgrade metal recycling operations from a notification system to a permit system, and to impose a new obligation requiring confirmation from the Minister of the Environment for scrap metal exports.

[SMM Steel] According to American Iron and Steel Institute, US raw steel production totaled 1.83 mln net tons in the week ending April 25, 2026, down 1.0% week on week, with capacity utilization at 79.3%. Despite the weekly decline, output was up 8.7% year on year, reflecting stronger underlying demand. Year-to-date production reached 29.55 mln net tons, rising 6.0% YoY, with utilization at 77.8%, indicating stable operating conditions in the US steel sector.

【SMM Steel】Egypt's Ezz Steel plans a $780m investment to establish a DRI plant in Algeria. The company submitted project details to AAPI, intending to utilize local iron ore and benefits like reduced taxes/energy costs. The project has a financing structure of $155m equity and $625m debt, targeting 2.5 Mt/y of sponge iron. By accessing Algeria's iron ore, Ezz Steel intends to expand the facility into an integrated industrial complex covering various stages of iron and steel production.

[SMM Steel] Japan Iron and Steel Federation reported Japan’s domestic steel consumption reached 7.19 million tons in Jan–Feb 2026, up 1.8% YoY. February consumption stood at 3.58 million tons (-0.5% MoM, +3% YoY). Sector-wise, automotive demand rose 3% YoY to 1.90 million tons, while construction declined 3.9% YoY and shipbuilding fell 1.8% YoY, indicating mixed demand dynamics.