Spring and Wire Product Manufacturers NAICS 3326

Mar 18, 2026 - War Disrupting Metals Markets

• Escalating conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are disrupting global metals supply chains, according to Wood Mackenzie analysts. The region is a key supplier of aluminum and steel inputs, and disruptions to ports and shipping routes are tightening supply and raising market risk for manufacturers that purchase metals. Aluminum markets were already projected to face a deficit, and interruptions to exports from Gulf producers could further tighten supply and push prices higher. The most immediate impact is on steel markets. Iran typically exports about 4 million tons of finished steel and 7–8 million tons of semi-finished products annually, roughly 11% of global semi-finished steel trade. With ports disrupted, this supply has effectively disappeared, causing billet prices to surge as buyers seek alternative sources. For manufacturers that rely on steel and metal inputs, the conflict increases the likelihood of higher raw material costs, shipping delays, and supply volatility.
• Consolidation among steel mills and service centers, combined with 50% Section 232 tariffs, is reshaping the steel supply chain, The Fabricator reports. Steel products manufacturers, including primary springs and wire producers, are expected to feel supply chain changes acutely. Mergers such as Ryerson–Olympic Steel and Russel Metals’ acquisition of Kloeckner facilities concentrate distribution power, reducing options for smaller buyers and increasing dependence on fewer service centers for specialty grades, custom cuts, and just‑in‑time inventory. Moreover, tariffs have sharply reduced imports, tightening domestic supply and driving up prices for steel products used in blades and tools. With service centers no longer pressured to move inventory quickly, prices rise faster, fall slower, and become harder to negotiate. Manufacturers face longer lead times, fewer financing options, and diminished leverage in sourcing high‑quality steels. The result is a more volatile, less competitive supply environment that raises production costs and complicates planning.

• The US Small Business Administration has launched what it calls its first-ever loan program dedicated to supporting America’s small manufacturers by providing additional credit for working capital needs. Effective Oct. 1, 2025 the Manufacturer’s Access to Revolving Credit (MARC) Loan Program provides a maximum of $5 million to borrowers engaged in manufacturing (NAICS 31-33), according to the agency. The money must be used for working capital needs, such as inventory purchases or new projects. MARC capital can be structured as a term loan for up to 10 years or a revolving line of credit for up to 20 years and the loan can be used in combination with other SBA and conventional commercial loans. The MARC loan program is part of the Trump administration’s larger effort to strengthen US manufacturing.
• Producer prices for spring and wire product manufacturers rose 4.4% in November compared to a year ago after rising 5.4% in the previous November-versus-November annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The industry producer price is at a record high amid increases in input costs, including metals and labor. Employment by hardware, spring, and wire product manufacturers shrank 0.8% year over year in November, while wages at fabricated metal product manufacturers rose 3.3% YoY in December to $27.66 per hour, easing from their record high in November, BLS data show.