The metals supply landscape has seen significant shifts in the last several years, especially in light of recent tariffs imposed by the US government on foreign imports. At Three D Metals, we understand that these changes can create uncertainty, and that you probably have questions about how the tariffs affect the metals industry.
In this post, we’re clarifying what’s happening in the market and how our approach ensures that our valued customers will continue to receive reliable, cost-effective metals products.
What’s Happening in the Metals Market?
Domestic pricing for metals has been higher than that of foreign metals for years. This is largely due to factors like lower labor and material costs in other countries and favorable exchange rates. The U.S. historically has also had stricter environmental regulations and higher labor costs that contribute to higher prices for domestically produced metals.
U.S.-imposed tariffs could disrupt this dynamic. In theory, the tariffs against certain foreign imports are designed to level the pricing playing field to make domestic products more competitive. Focusing on localized production brings several advantages for U.S.-based customers. It decreases lead times for the domestic metals supply and removes the unpredictability associated with international logistics, including fluctuating container shipment costs and port delays.
Three D Metals Supply Chain Advantage
Over the years, we’ve developed strong relationships with domestic suppliers across the U.S. We’re proud to share that more than 90% of the metals we purchase are sourced from domestic mills. That means our customers have better price stability compared to those who buy metal products from distributors with a heavier reliance on imported materials.
Here are just a few examples of our commitment to domestically-sourced metals:
- 100% of our high carbon and low carbon steel coil is domestically sourced.
- 100% of our 600 series aluminum bar is domestically sourced.
- 90% of our aluminum and copper coil is domestically sourced.
While we already have a strong portfolio of domestic mills that we source from, we’re still working to diversify our supply chain. We only import materials when customer demand exceeds the manufacturing limits or capacity of domestic producers.
Helpful Metals Resources
In addition to our domestic sourcing strategy, we’ve also developed resources to help our customers get a clear picture of metals pricing and inventory.
Metal Calculator
Our metal calculator is a convenient tool to get accurate estimates for your metals project. Just select your desired shape and fill in the dimensions to start a custom quote.
Daily Metal Values
We update our metal product stock list every day to reflect our current inventory. Subscribe to the Daily Metal Values email to stay on top of lead times and prices.
Monthly Metals Industry Newsletter
In a changing metals landscape, Three D Metals is committed to being a reliable partner in metals products and industry insights. Sign up to stay on top of the latest trends in metals.
