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Steel: U.S. Strong Despite Global Oversupply
Steel: U.S. Strong Despite Global Oversupply Overview: The U.S. steel industry has been a developing, positive theme in 2016. Steel impacts the industrial metals components of VanEck’s actively and passively managed natural resources strategies. As of March 31, 2016, steel-related companies accounted for approximately $250 million of the firm’s assets under management.
The global steel industry is oversupplied and is facing significant headwinds. 2015 was arguably a turbulent year for the industry, given these major negatives: China’s economic slowdown, falling prices, and a glut of foreign steel imports into the U.S. (mainly from China).
Despite the negative view for the global steel industry, we believe that the U.S. steel industry has bottomed and unique investment opportunities exist. Thus far in 2016, the U.S. steel industry has performed well, and, we believe, there are further compelling upside opportunities. In short, we see these positive signs: (1) a continuation of a strengthening U.S steel price environment (Chart A); (2) fundamentally better operating and financial conditions via improved capacity utilization (Chart B); and (3) the potential for an industry-wide multiple rerating, which has not occurred in a long time.
Chart A: U.S. Steel Prices Rebound in 2016 ($/ton)
Source: CRU, Morgan Stanley Research. HRC represents ”hot rolled coil”; CRC is ”cold rolled coil”; and HDG is ”hot dipped galvanized steel.” All represent types of steel. Data as of 4/30/2016.
Chart B: U.S. Steel Industry Operating Conditions/Rates (% Capacity Utilization)
Source: AISI, Morgan Stanley. Capacity utilization is a metric used to measure the rate at which potential output levels are being met or used; this chart demonstrates improvement thus far in 2016. Data as of 4/30/2016.
Flood of Supply from China
The global steel industry is oversupplied, with about 33% idle spare capacity. During the period from 2012 to 2015, global steel production increased from 1,554 million metric tons (mmt) per annum to 1,667 mmt per annum, a 113 mmt (or 7.3%) jump, of which 94 mmt came from new capacity in China.
The magnitude of this increase in global supply is best understood when stacked against demand. The U.S. is the world’s third largest consumer of steel, with a 120 mmt to 130 mmt per annum market, while the European Union is the second largest market at 140 mmt to 150 mmt per annum. (China is both the world’s largest consumer and producer.)
China’s Overcapacity Problem
China’s demand for steel began to wane just at the time that the country began aggressively increasing its domestic production. The net result was that steel once destined for the Chinese domestic market found its way onto the export market with Chinese exports increasing from 42 mmt per annum in 2012 to 100 mmt per annum in 2015 (see Chart C).
Chart C: China’s Net Steel Exports
Source: VanEck, Bloomberg. Data as of 4/30/2016.
Predictably, the increase in Chinese steel export volumes depressed international steel export prices. This placed significant price pressure on domestic steel prices in countries that are large importers of steel, such as the U.S.
U.S. Steel Prices’ 2015 Collapse
At the end of 2015, steel (hot rolled coil) exports from China traded at $250/ton and imports into the U.S. reached record highs of 30% of demand, compared with a more normalized level of 18% to 20%. With cheaper imported steel flooding the U.S. market, domestic prices collapsed from $480/ton to around $370/ton (-23%) between July 2015 and January 2016.
These low prices (last seen during the 2008/2009 global financial crisis) threw the U.S. steel industry into a crisis of reduced orders, idle mills, and significant layoffs. To protect itself, the industry turned to trade protection measures to help combat low-priced imports. The Leveling the Playing Field Act, passed in 2015, seeks to maintain a fair marketplace for U.S. steelmakers as it restores and strengthens anti-dumping rules and countervailing duties.
As a result, in March 2016 the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that both government subsidies and dumping were occurring and accordingly levied tariffs in the range of 282% to 493%. These are more than enough to lock out Chinese steel from the U.S. market.
Upside Potential for U.S. Steel Prices
Looking out post the implementation of these policies, we expect current U.S. domestic steel prices to have additional upside. We believe that the price of domestic steel could improve because: (1) the removal of ”dumped and government subsidized” steel from the domestic market will normalize the mix between domestic supply and imports; (2) inventories will be drawn down; and (3) upward pressure on raw material prices, such as coking coal and iron ore, will continue.
However, looking ahead to 2017, we do expect the market to soften as higher prices translate into increased supply either from the U.S. domestic market (U.S. steel utilization rate is around 74%) or from increased imports. Finally, the strong automotive and non-residential markets alone are not sufficient to offset a potential increase in U.S domestic supply and so a resurgence in demand from other industries, such as the energy industry, will be required.
Trade Protection Taking Shape
In conclusion, although the U.S steel industry has performed well to date in 2016, we believe the opportunity has more near-term upside potential as the enforcement of all trade protection laws is still in its early stages. As authorities eventually implement these policies for steel, it would not be surprising to see additional trade protection announcements being made covering other key U.S. commodities.
by Charl Malan, Senior Analyst
Malan has more than 20 years of industry experience and is a member of the Hard Assets Team that manages VanEck’s Natural Resources Equity strategy. Malan specializes in base and industrial metals, and also serves on the gold and precious metals team. Read full bio.
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From 18 to 19 November 2024, Brazil will host the G20 summit in Rio for the first time as the focus of the world’s most important platform for global economic cooperation.
The coalition, which includes the USA, China, India, the E U and, most recently, the African Union, represents the world’s most important economies, which, according to OECD figures, account for around 80 per cent of global gross domestic product, 75 per cent of world trade and two thirds of the world’s population.
Since Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Lula) took up his third uninterrupted term of office at the beginning of 2023, he has spent a lot of time abroad to improve his country’s image in the world. His efforts could pay off. A recent Pew Research survey found that most Brazilian adults are optimistic about their country’s status as an international power.
In addition to the G20, Brazil is also set to host other high-profile events such as the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) and the BRICS summit (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in 2025, while also seeking membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
In the almost three years since Brazil initiated its formal accession process for OECD membership, the country has achieved many milestones on the road to this goal. If successful, Brazil would be in a unique position to influence the increasing geopolitical and economic competition between industrialised and developing countries, as it is the only country to be represented in the BRICS, the G20 and the OECD simultaneously.
As the eighth largest economy in the world and the largest economy in Latin America, Brazil could be a strong link in the global discourse on key issues for the Global South (according to UN Trade and Development, the Global South essentially comprises Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia excluding Israel, Japan and South Korea, and Oceania excluding Australia and New Zealand).
These issues include, above all, the fight against hunger, poverty and inequality, sustainable development and the reform of global governance. If Brazil is able to achieve political and financial commitments to progress on priorities such as digital infrastructure, this could lead not only to an increase in Brazil’s GDP, but also to a narrowing of the economic and urban-rural divide and a reduction in gender inequality. Consider that the introduction of a relatively new instant money transfer platform operated by the central bank, known as Pix, has already promoted financial inclusion and increased access to banking services from around 70 per cent of the population to more than 84 per cent (source: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace).
We expect that an OECD seal of approval for Brazil will also encourage global investors seeking the assurance of the Coalition’s high standards for the ease of doing business. A seat at the table would give Brazil a stronger voice in shaping best practices and global frameworks for rapidly evolving technology standards. Brazilian companies specialising in artificial intelligence and financial technology are already among the largest in South America.
As the largest oil producer in Latin America, resource-rich Brazil is a leader in the energy sector, as it is one of the ten largest oil producers in the world (according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Brazil produced 4 per cent of the world’s total oil production at the end of 2023). However, the country’s largest sector is finance, with a weighting of more than 36 per cent according to the MSCI Brazil Index.
Central bank in interest rate hike mode
High government spending continues to be a major problem. In our opinion, any reduction in this spending would give the country’s capital markets cause for optimism. Meanwhile, Brazil is an exception to the global trend of falling interest rates: In September, Brazil’s central bank raised interest rates to curb inflationary pressures. The market expects the Brazilian real to remain stable or appreciate slightly in the near future, partly due to falling US interest rates. We see this as a potential advantage for foreign investors in Brazil.
It is also encouraging to see that progress is being made on Brazil’s long-awaited VAT reform, which could further boost the private sector as efficiency gains from a simpler tax system would favour investment.
Growth in Brazil’s manufacturing and services sectors accelerated in September as output in both sectors increased, indicating strong growth in economic activity. In addition, the Brazilian market is currently trading at valuations that we consider favourable. Improved conditions in Brazil’s manufacturing sector have been driven by a resurgence in production, stronger job creation and a pick-up in sales growth, according to S&P Global. At the end of September, Brazil’s Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index was surpassed only by India, rising to 53.2 (from 50.4 in August; readings above 50 indicate expansion).
Chart 1: Brazilian Purchasing Managers’ Index
Source: FactSet, Markit Economics
Expectations are also high that Brazil will experience an economic boost in 2027, having won the historic bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup – a first not only for Brazil, but for the whole of South America.
Over the near term, we believe investors should stay attuned to the opportunities in Brazil and may find what we consider an attractive entry point into this large and diverse market.
Chart 2: The valuations of Latin American equities look favourable
Attractive valuations compared to industrialised countries, emerging markets and own history
Chart 3: Latin American equities offer high dividends
High dividend yield compared to industrialised countries, emerging markets and own history
From Dina Ting, Head of Global Index Portfolio Management at Franklin Templeton
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