Steel Products Manufacturers NAICS 3312

Jul 21, 2026 - US Launches CORE Investigation

• In July, the US Department of Commerce launched an investigation into whether corrosion-resistant steel (CORE) produced in Thailand using Chinese steel is circumventing existing US antidumping and countervailing duty orders on Chinese CORE. If Commerce determines the imports are evading those duties, they could become subject to the same tariffs and cash deposit requirements as Chinese steel. The investigation could benefit domestic steel products manufacturers by limiting low-priced import competition, supporting domestic steel prices, and improving the competitiveness of companies that manufacture products from purchased steel. Stronger enforcement could also encourage buyers to source more steel from US mills. However, manufacturers that depend on imported corrosion-resistant steel could face higher raw material costs and tighter supplies if additional duties are imposed. Commerce expects to issue a preliminary determination within 150 days and a final decision within 300 days.
• The rapid expansion of AI-driven data centers is creating strong demand for a wide range of steel products, according to a recent blog post in Metols. A single data center campus can consume 15,000 to 30,000 tons of steel, making data centers one of the fastest-growing end markets for steel distributors and manufacturers. Products seeing particularly strong demand include heavy structural steel shapes such as W14 and W12 columns, steel decking, carbon steel pipe used in cooling systems, and other structural and mechanical steel products. Data centers also require steel for server racks, enclosures, power infrastructure, HVAC systems, and piping networks. With data center construction projected to grow 25% to 35% annually through at least 2030, steel products manufacturers serving structural construction, mechanical systems, and industrial infrastructure markets are positioned to benefit from sustained demand growth driven by investments in AI and cloud computing.

• The April update to Section 232 tariff rules creates mixed cost and strategic impacts for US manufacturers that rely on imported steel, Politico reports. While 50% tariffs remain on many primary metals, including steel, the shift to applying duties on the full value of imports can increase total costs for some manufacturers, especially those using steel-intensive inputs. At the same time, lower tariff tiers on certain downstream and specialized products provide partial cost relief for select goods. Exemptions for low-metal-content items also reduce costs in limited cases. However, the administration’s policy increases uncertainty and reduces flexibility by eliminating the prior process for requesting tariff changes, making it harder for manufacturers to seek relief. Overall, domestic steel product manufacturers that depend on foreign steel face continued cost pressure, more complex tariff exposure, and less ability to influence policy, requiring careful supply chain and pricing adjustments.
• Producer prices for steel product manufacturers from purchased steel rose 9% in June compared to a year ago, after rising 3.3% in the previous June-to-June annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Steep tariffs on imported steel (50%) and supply constraints are raising input costs for makers of steel products and driving up producer prices, which have been on the rise since February 2025. Industry employment shrank 1.7% year over year in May, while the average industry wage at primary metals manufacturers rose 4.4% YoY in June to a new high of $30.91 per hour, BLS data show.