Second week of February assessments show USA grey cast iron prices eased modestly as markets balanced steady raw-material flows with weather-related logistics disruptions. The market began the month sideways-to-firmer after January, with winter storms and elevated maritime activity tightening landside logistics and lengthening lead times, pressuring values in the first full week. Supply remained comfortable as domestic ore output stayed robust and overseas exports kept feedstock availability ample, supporting continued foundry production. Demand was bifurcated: construction and infrastructure procurement provided solid support amid resilient commercial activity and a narrowed construction labor gap to 2.1%; residential housing softened as affordability pressures and higher mortgage costs weighed on starts; automotive demand weakened notably, reducing demand for grey cast iron components.
Second week of February assessments showed USA grey cast iron prices eased, with a weekly decline of 1.05% as markets digested a mix of steady raw-material flows and weather-related logistics disruptions. The market entered the month on a sideways-to-firm footing after January’s range-bound trading, but severe winter storms and high seas on the East Coast tightened landside logistics and extended lead times, exerting downward pressure in the first full week of February. Meanwhile, robust domestic iron ore output and record overseas exports kept feedstock availability comfortable, tempering the scale of the correction and supporting continued production at many foundries.
Demand patterns for grey cast iron were bifurcated across end-use sectors. Construction and infrastructure procurement remained a primary support, with commercial construction and fabrication activity described as resilient; construction employment rose by 23,000 jobs and the construction labor gap narrowed to 2.1%, underpinning steady offtake for plate and structural castings. In contrast, residential housing softened as affordability pressures and higher mortgage costs limited new starts, while the automotive sector weakened sharply — vehicle sales fell 25% month-on-month to 1,107,423 units — reducing demand for automotive components made from grey cast iron. Manufacturing and industrial machinery demand held at a moderate pace as buyers adopted need-based purchasing.
On the supply side, domestic feedstock dynamics were supportive for grey cast iron: Mesabi and Marquette Range production remained robust and record exports from Vale in 2025 bolstered import availability, with Vale’s annual shipments reaching 336 million tonnes, helping to relieve raw-material constraints and sustain inventories. However, distribution and logistics costs rose as carriers contended with winter storms, high seas and regional trucking constraints, tightening regional availability in some corridors. Inventories and production planning generally allowed manufacturers to maintain output, but firms reported the need for careful scheduling to offset transportation bottlenecks.
Weekly trends showed January trading largely range-bound for grey cast iron, with modest upward drift through mid-month before a consolidation and the early-February pullback. Per weekly assessment data, the most recent week recorded a decline of a little over 1%, reflecting the combined influence of weather-affected logistics and softer demand from residential and automotive buyers. Grey cast iron prices did not collapse but instead corrected within a narrow band as supply remained generally available and buyers exercised caution, moving to need-based procurement amid uncertain near-term demand.
Looking ahead, the near-term outlook for grey cast iron is mixed and subject to market conditions. ChemAnalyst’s monthly outlook points to a slight uptick in February for grey cast iron. Key drivers include higher winter logistics costs and trucking constraints that could support grey cast iron prices in the near term, while comfortable raw-material supply from domestic mines and record Vale exports limit sustained upside.
