Hable con nuestros expertos hoy mismo

Regístrese a continuación y personalizaremos una solución que satisfaga sus necesidades específicas. Cuando hable con uno de nuestros expertos, es posible que esté calificado para probar nuestros productos líderes en la industria de forma gratuita.

Puede cancelar su suscripción a estas actualizaciones en cualquier momento. Argus gestiona la información personal de acuerdo con nuestra Política de privacidad.
Generic Hero BannerGeneric Hero Banner
Latest Market News

UK steel decoilers bracing for 50pc quota cut

  • Spanish Market: Metals
  • 17/03/26

The UK's steel market is bracing itself for a halving of tariff-rate quotas, service centres told Argus today.

The department of business and trade is leaning towards quota cuts of up to 50pc, with a 50pc out-of-quota tariff, but will drop the cap on residual quotas and may reintroduce the carryover of unused quota, service centre sources said.

The department is also considering introducing a shipping clause, because of potential disruption to shipments caused by the US-Iran war.

A halving of hot-rolled coil (HRC) quotas would lead to a shortfall of around 488,000 t/yr, compared with current annual quotas, according to Argus calculations. The drop in hot-dip galvanised (HDG) would be even more pronounced, with a shortfall of around 915,000 t/yr, assuming a 50pc cut. The removal of the residual cap on HDG would likely lead to a large number of tonnes coming from South Korea, a flow which is dominated mainly by two traders, and Vietnam.

The new safeguard regime will likely be announced by the business minister at Tata Steel's Port Talbot site on 19 March.

The UK market has firmed markedly in the past two weeks, after seriously lagging European prices, since Tata Steel hiked its offer by £125/t. Replacement costs for European and domestic HRC are now £650/t ddp or above, according to service centres, while sheet prices have rocketed from lows of around £550/t to over £700/t in some cases.

Local producer Tata Steel is likely to add another £20-25/t to its prices immediately, because of increased shipping and costs, and is eyeing another jump of around £100/t for July, sources said.

By Colin Richardson

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

17/03/26

Australia eyes record lithium exports after disruptions

Australia eyes record lithium exports after disruptions

Singapore, 17 March (Argus) — Australia's lithium loadings are on track to hit a record high in March after cyclone disruptions curbed February exports, according to data compiled by Argus . Australian ports are expected to load about 631,000t of lithium this month, with China typically taking the vast majority of Australian spodumene, according to vessel tracking firm Kpler's data compiled by Argus . Tropical cyclone Mitchell halted exports at some ports in Western Australia in early February, including Port Hedland, where Australian lithium producers Mineral Resources and PLS ship some of their spodumene. Vessel delays extended into March, contributing to the higher loading figure, said an Australian spodumene source. Australia's Bunbury port expects to load about 328,200t of lithium this month, with loading also expected at Geraldton port — near lithium miner Liontown's Kathleen Valley project — later this month after no shipments in February. A lithium concentrates export ban by Zimbabwe in late-February drove Chinese lithium salt prices higher before they later eased, and some market participants remain cautious about the potential impact of the ban. The market is still underestimating the risks caused by the ban, a Chinese lithium trading source told Argus . Zimbabwe's mines ministry ordered regulators to block every shipment — even those already in transit. Only mining firms with mining rights and working beneficiation plants will be allowed to export processed material, said the ministry. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Bahrain Al producer cuts operations on supply shortage

16/03/26
16/03/26

Bahrain Al producer cuts operations on supply shortage

Singapore, 16 March (Argus) — Bahrain-based smelter Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) has initiated a controlled shutdown, idling about 300,000 t/yr of capacity in response to supply constraints caused by shipping delays through the strait of Hormuz. The shutdown of reduction lines 1–3 temporarily idles about 19pc of total output capacity , the firm said on 15 March. The smelter has a total nameplate capacity of 1.6mn t/yr. Alba will concentrate raw materials on lines 4–6, which remain fully operational, to preserve output stability while managing inventories on the back of supply-chain volatility. The company declared force majeure on its aluminium deliveries on 4 March because disruption on the strait of Hormuz hindered both outbound metal shipments and inbound alumina supply. The disruption has already prompted other Gulf smelters, including Qatalum , to reduce operations. By Candice Luo Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US picks 60 trade partners for tariff action

13/03/26
13/03/26

US picks 60 trade partners for tariff action

Washington, 13 March (Argus) — President Donald Trump's administration has selected 60 of the US' largest trading partners to target with new import taxes that will replicate the tariffs invalidated by the Supreme Court last month. The US Trade Representative's office (USTR) late on Thursday announced an investigation into 59 countries and the EU, alleging that these jurisdictions have not been diligent in banning imports of products produced by forced labor in third countries. "Despite the international consensus against forced labor, governments have failed to impose and effectively enforce measures banning goods produced with forced labor from entering their markets," USTR chief Jamieson Greer said. USTR is citing its legal authority under Section 301 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1974, which allows targeting a foreign trade partner for unfair practices. USTR already has launched a separate investigation into 12 of those 60 foreign jurisdictions. Collectively, all major US trading partners would be liable for high tariffs once the USTR completes these investigations in May. The list includes Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the EU, Norway, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia. All those jurisdictions have been subject to emergency tariffs of 15pc and higher since last April. The US Supreme Court struck down those tariffs on 20 February. The US administration on the same day, citing separate authority under Section 122, imposed a 10pc tariff on all US imports. But those tariffs will only be in effect until 24 July. USTR is aiming to have the new Section 301 tariffs in place by that deadline. The Section 301 process does not affect existing tariffs on steel, aluminum, cars and auto parts. Trump and previous presidents routinely used Section 301 authority to address specific trade complaints, so the legal authority has not been challenged in court before. But a mass trade action simultaneously targeting dozens of countries in an effort to reverse-engineer invalidated tariffs may invite legal challenges. "It won't surprise anyone that once again Trump is refusing to accept the reality of his loss and is desperately back at the drawing board trying to find any pretext he can to reclaim power the Supreme Court rightfully said he doesn't have," House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee ranking member Richard Neal (D-Massachusetts) said on Thursday. On Friday, a coalition of dozens of states, including Oregon, asked a federal court to suspend collection of the Section 122 tariffs while a lawsuit against those temporary tariffs proceeds. Those states point to lengthy delays in obtaining refunds to the tariffs the Supreme Court struck down. "It is likely impossible for plaintiff states to be made fully whole for the economic harm suffered each day that the unlawful Section 122 tariffs are in place," the states wrote in their legal filing. By Haik Gugarats and Chris Knight Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US economy slows sharply in 4Q: BEA

13/03/26
13/03/26

US economy slows sharply in 4Q: BEA

Houston, 13 March (Argus) — The US economy grew at a revised 0.7pc annual rate in the fourth quarter, half the pace originally reported because of downward revisions in government spending and exports, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported today. Growth in gross domestic product (GDP) was revised lower from an initial estimate of 1.4pc, according to the bureau's second of three estimates for the quarter released Friday. Real final sales to private domestic purchasers, comprising consumer spending and private fixed investment, increased by 1.9pc in the fourth quarter, revised down from 2.4pc in the 20 February estimate. The personal consumption expenditure (PCE) price index, a measure of inflation, was unchanged at 2.9pc. The second report on GDP, originally scheduled for 26 February, was delayed because of a federal government shutdown in October-November. With the latest revisions, GDP grew at a slower 2.1pc rate in 2025, down from an originally reported 2.2pc. It contracted by 0.6pc in the first quarter, and grew by 3.8pc in the second quarter and by 4.4pc in the third quarter 2025. GDP grew by 2.9pc in 2023 and by 2.8pc in 2024. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US trade deficit narrows by 25pc in January

12/03/26
12/03/26

US trade deficit narrows by 25pc in January

Houston, 12 March (Argus) — The US trade deficit narrowed in January to its lowest in three months, as exports grew faster than imports. The US trade deficit in goods and services fell to a seasonally adjusted $54.4bn in January, down from $72.9bn in December, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported Thursday. The deficit in goods fell from December by $17.5bn to $81.8bn. The services surplus widened by $1bn to $27.3bn. Compared with January 2025, the total deficit shrank by 58pc. President Donald Trump launched a raft of tariffs on 2 April last year, "Liberation Day," citing emergency powers, before suspending the highest reciprocal tariffs in a bid to negotiate bilateral trade deals or gain leverage for sometimes unrelated deals. The ensuing uncertainty in US trading relations, along with scattershot diplomatic sorties, including lashing out at allies and adversaries alike, has scrambled supply chains, corporate investment and hiring plans and spending patterns, helping to undermine the dollar and US debt markets. The trade-weighted dollar has depreciated by about 2pc so far this year following an 8pc depreciation last year, according to Oxford Economics. A weaker dollar supports US exports and makes imports more expensive. The US trade deficit edged higher to $911bn last year from $904bn in 2024, with the goods deficit rising to $1.24 trillion from $1.215 trillion the prior year. The full trade deficit peaked at $923bn in 2022, up from $837bn the prior year, before falling to $774bn in 2023, according to BEA data. Total US exports in January rose to $302bn, $15.8bn more than in December, while imports were $356bn, $2.6bn less than in December. "Imports would normally be rising, so their recent stagnation suggests that the tariffs have depressed demand somewhat, in favor of domestic production, but the returns are minimal in the context of the pain of higher costs inflicted on businesses and households," Pantheon Macroeconomics said in a note. "The overall deficit in January was essentially unchanged from its Q4 average of $53.3B, suggesting that net trade will have little bearing in GDP growth in Q1." Exports of goods increased on the month by $14.6bn to $195.5bn in January, while imports of goods fell by $2.8bn to $277bn. Exports of services increased by $1.2bn to $106.7bn, and services imports rose by $23bn to $79.3bn. Petroleum trade slows US exports of crude and petroleum products, including natural gas liquids, fuel oil and others on an end use basis, totaled $20.6bn in January, down from $21.1bn in December, with imports at $15.5bn in January, down from $16.2bn the prior month, the report said. Exports of crude averaged 3.9mn b/d in January, with imports at 6.1mn b/d the same month. The US had a $19bn deficit with Vietnam in January, a $12.9bn shortfall with Mexico and a $12.5bn deficit with China, a $6.1bn deficit with the EU and a $6bn deficit with South Korea, a $5.5bn deficit with Japan and a $4.9bn shortfall with Germany. The US deficit with Canada was $2.7bn in January. The US had a $7bn surplus with the UK, a $6.4bn surplus with the Netherlands, a $4.5bn surplus with central and south America, a $2.2bn surplus with Saudi Arabia and a $1.8bn surplus with Brazil. For 2025, the US showed surpluses of $61bn with Netherlands, $52bn with south and central America — including $14bn with Brazil — $32bn with the UK, and $28.5bn with Hong Kong. The average US tariff rate on imports rose to 13pc by the end of last year from 2.6pc at the beginning of the year, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of New York study released late last year. US firms and consumers bear 90pc of the economic burden from the tariffs, the New York Fed study said. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Argus Seaborne Coal Outlook

Argus Seaborne Coal Outlook

Análisis independiente, pronósticos de precios confiables y análisis de datos para ayudarle a tomar mejores decisiones.

Argus Line Pipe

Argus Line Pipe

Evaluaciones del precio, perspectivas y comentarios sobre el mercado, noticias y análisis para el mercado de tuberías.

Argus Battery Materials

Explore las evaluaciones del precio de los materiales de baterías respaldadas por análisis diarios del mercado, pronósticos y poderosas herramientas.

Argus Tungsten Analytics

Análisis del mercado y pronósticos a 10 años sobre la oferta, demanda, precios y proyectos de tungsteno.

Argus Scrap Markets

Evaluaciones confiables del precio de la chatarra en metales ferrosos y metales no ferrosos.
Generic Hero Banner

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more