May 20, 2025
May Market Minute 2025
What Texas Metal Buyers Should Know About the U.S.–China Tariff Reprieve
On May 11, the U.S. administration announced a 90-day reprieve on tariffs of Chinese imports, from 145% back down to 10%. Could this impact how—and where—you source material in the months ahead?
Why It Matters for Metal Buyers
Texas is a manufacturing powerhouse, home to thousands of job shops, fabricators, and equipment makers. Whether you’re sourcing aluminum sheets, carbon steel plate, or stainless bar, pricing and availability are tied closely to global trade dynamics.
Speaking with our metal buyers in Texas, SteelNow Customer Experience Manager Jonathan is hearing that business has tapered off slightly. Some attribute this to the annual summer slowdown coming early.
In the meantime, customers continue to buy metal on an as-needed basis, keeping an eye on talk about tariffs—which are contributing to a sense of uncertainty about the market.
Here’s what the latest shift could mean for you:
More Predictable Pricing (for Now): After weeks of volatility, base prices on such metals as aluminum, copper, and nickel are rebounding. Aluminum, for example, climbed back to $1.13/lb. after dipping near $1.05/lb. in the wake of tariff hikes.
Domestic Mills Still Hold the Line: U.S. carbon steel prices remain firm, with hot-rolled coil holding around $900/ton. Some producers have idled select capacity, which means domestic supply remains tight.
Tariffs Embedded into Surcharges: Stainless steel producer North American Stainless has introduced a tariff-like surcharge for May shipments, with additional rounds possible in June and July. Aluminum producer Constellium implemented a tariff-related surcharge on certain orders.
Review Your Supply Chain: Do you rely on Chinese imports for certain materials? Now might be the time to explore domestic or Mexico-based alternatives that reduce long-term exposure to tariff swings.
Talk to Your Distributor: Suppliers like SteelNow are actively tracking these shifts and can help you evaluate your options—whether you are focused on speed or certainty of the material.