Steel is one of those industries that doesn't get much attention until something goes wrong — a supply crunch drives up construction costs, a tariff war disrupts manufacturing, or a raw material shortage ripples through entire economies. But behind the scenes, global steel markets are constantly in motion, responding to forces that touch nearly every sector of modern life. Understanding how these markets work isn't just useful for steel traders; it's essential context for anyone in construction, manufacturing, automotive, or infrastructure. Demand Tells the Story of an Economy There's a reason analysts watch steel consumption as an economic indicator. When an economy is growing, construction sites multiply, factories run at higher capacity, and transportation networks expand. All of that needs steel — and not just generic steel, but specific grades engineered for specific jobs. Carbon steel sheets are the workhorses of construction and fabrication, valued for...