The United States convened more than 50 countries in Washington this week for a critical minerals summit that delivered a flurry of new initiatives designed to reshape the geopolitics — and pricing mechanics — of minerals essential to semiconductors, electric vehicles and the defense supply chain.

The US laid out its strongest push yet to reshape global critical minerals supply chains at the inaugural Critical Mineral Ministerial in Washington on Wednesday February 4, where senior officials detailed plans for an allied trade bloc built on reference prices and enforceable price floors – a potential turning point for small, strategically important markets such as tungsten.

A new US initiative to establish a stockpile of critical minerals for the civilian economy could add pressure to already stretched supply, market participants told Fastmarkets on Tuesday February 3 and Wednesday February 4.

In 2026, the North American wood products industry enters a year of cautious stabilization.

Here are the key takeaways from market participants on US ferrous scrap metal prices, market confidence, inventory and more from our February survey.

This Fastmarkets Viewpoint explains how headline growth has been buoyed by AI‑driven investment even as the broader goods economy cools, and why truly disposable income and packaging demand move in lockstep.

Learn about the challenges of steel overcapacity in the US as tariffs shift and affect producers and consumers alike.

Explore the insights from Lewis Leibowitz on Section 232 tariffs and their potential legal implications for trade negotiations.

Learn about the partnership between Lilac Solutions and Traxys in building a robust lithium supply chain in the US.

US recovered fiber prices and demand remained stable through January as buyers fortified inventories ahead of a projected February generation drop. Leading containerboard producers report healthy to heavy raw material levels, especially for old corrugated containers (OCC), ensuring optimal supply despite anticipated seasonal shifts.