Last week's SMU Steel Market Survey was one of the key ingredients in the most recent issue of the Steel Market Update newsletter published earlier. One of the areas of primary importance to those involved in the flat rolled steel industry is the subject of steel pricing and trends which are associated with flat rolled steel pricing.

Our first article discusses flat rolled steel pricing trends and the impact RG Steel restart of the L furnace along with foreign steel and other factors will have on prices going forward according to those taking our survey. We also discuss inventory levels and whether manufacturers and service centers are building, reducing or maintaining inventory levels according to the results of our most recent Steel Market Survey.

Service centers and spot prices were also highlighted in our most recent issue. Scrap pricing is one of the keys to flat rolled steel pricing. We discuss what direction scrap prices are forecast for February 2012.

We have two articles about the ThyssenKrupp AG and the rumor of a possible sale of their CSA and TKS USA plants. One of our writers began his career at Thyssen before they merged with Krupp. Read his thoughts on the subject.

We also discuss numerous economic data points which are of interest to those in the flat rolled steel markets, existing home sales, Chinese imports or exports, scrap exports for 2011, iron ore spot prices, oil rigs in the US and Canada and information regarding the CME Group looking to develop an OTC ferrous price risk management product for China.

(Sourced from www.steelmarketupdate.com)