Yuma steel distributor to raise prices amid increased tariffs
YUMA, AZ (AZFamily) — Arizona businesses are preparing for price increases as President Trump’s new tariffs take effect on Tuesday.
Starting March 4, imports from Canada and Mexico will face a 25% tariff, and on March 12, a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports will also be reinstated.
The manufacturing sector is anticipating significant impacts on overhead costs.
Remington Industrial Supply in Yuma County is preparing for the changes.
They’ve been trying to stay ahead of the game by stocking up with material and filling their storage units with a wide range of steel and aluminum materials. The company supplies local auto shops, welders and farmers.
“A lot of it is agriculture work down here. They’re going full blast right now. It’s the main season. A lot of that machinery is being built right now, for their conveyor belts, all of that requires some sort of steel,” said Christian Hernandez, RIS manager.
Hernandez said that about 60% of their steel is imported from overseas. Their main vendors have already warned that a price increase is coming, which will raise the cost of material for both them and their clients.
Hernandez said an aluminum sheet might cost an extra $30 to $40, depending on the weight.
The U.S. is the second-largest importer of steel, bringing in nearly 26 million tons in 2023 from countries like Mexico, Canada and Brazil.
Trump’s executive order for a 25% tariff on aluminum and steel would apply to all countries.
“Everything is going to cost more to build. If you’re repairing something or fixing something it’s going to cost more to do it now,” said Hernandez.
The tariff on these goods is a strategy Trump argues will boost domestic steel production.
Meanwhile, businesses like RIS are preparing to weather the storm but remain optimistic.
“I’m hoping it helps our economy, and it does something for us,” said Hernandez.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2025 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.
