North American Steel Market Report: Rising Opportunities Amid Strong Activity

Recent developments indicate a very positive trend in North America’s steel market, largely driven by increased plant activity. In April 2025, robust job growth reported in the U.S. aligns with interest in small-cap construction and materials stocks—corroborated by “Is Westlake Corp. (NYSE:WLK) a Small-Cap Construction and Materials Stock Hedge Funds Are Buying?” and “Is Reliance Inc. (NYSE:RS) a Small-Cap Construction and Materials Stock Hedge Funds Are Buying?”. These articles emphasize how the stable economic environment influenced significant interest among hedge funds, yet no direct correlation to specific steel plant activities was observed.

The ArcelorMittal Lázaro Cárdenas steel plant demonstrated peak activity at 100% in December 2024, but subsequently experienced a drop to 85% by April 2025. This notable decline contrasts with the positive market outlook and could indicate a temporary slowdown—no direct link to the hedge fund activities was established. AM/NS Calvert LLC peaked at 99% in April 2025, reflecting strong performance and reinforcing the overall market sentiment amid ongoing investments highlighted in both the Westlake Corp. and Reliance Inc. articles.

Algoma Steel showed a steady but moderate increase, achieving 57% in February 2025 before stabilizing at 52% in April, while Nucor Steel Berkeley remains consistently robust, reporting activity in the 70% range, emphasizing resilience. The Liberty Steel Georgetown plant reported the lowest activity, at 21%, through April, marking a concern that might require additional monitoring.

The upward trajectory in plant activities signals robust demand, but the significant drop in overall mean activity to 6% in May indicates potential supply disruptions or seasonal shifts. This could lead to procurement challenges.

Steel buyers should closely monitor plant performance, particularly Liberty Steel Georgetown, for possible procurement disruptions. Strategic sourcing should be considered from high-activity plants like AM/NS Calvert LLC and Nucor Steel Berkeley, which are well-positioned to meet demand, given their current operational strength and market sentiment.

In conclusion, while the overall market remains very positive, specific procurement strategies must adapt to recent activity fluctuations to mitigate risks associated with lower-performing plants.