Steel Products
SMU Comparison Indices: Big Moves Lower Followed by One Index Reversing Course
Written by John Packard
January 28, 2013
With the exception of Steel Orbis (which if you haven’t noticed tends to take few positions on a weekly basis) and SteelBenchmarker who did not produce new numbers this past week, CRU and SMU both dropped HRC price assessments by double digits by the middle of the week. By the end of the week, Platts reversed course and moved their HR and CR assessments higher by $10 per ton (assuming due to the mill price announcements).

John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Steel Products

CRU: EC to toughen steel safeguards
The European Commission proposes cutting its steel import quota by almost half, with volumes exceeding the limit facing 50% duties. The region’s steel industry welcomes the move, while other steel-producing nations fear the consequences. CRU published an insight before this announcement, noting that more restrictive trade policy could significantly raise the cost of marginal supply […]

US and Canadian rig counts stabilize
US counts continue to hover just above historic lows, while Canadian figures remain comparatively healthy.

Plate market sources critique mill hikes amid current market conditions
Following spot market plate price increase notices issued by domestic mills this past week, participants are contemplating the rationale behind the increases and whether they will stick. Some sources anticipate that current market conditions will shift in November and believe the increases may set a new "pricing floor."

Oregon Steel Mills lifts plate prices by $60/ton
Oregon Steel Mills has joined other producers in announcing a price increase of at least $60 per short ton on steel plate.

CRU: Construction of pilot plant for green steel process starts
Voestalpine and partners have begun building an industrial-scale Hy4Smelt demonstration plant in Linz, Austria, which they hope will become key in the decarbonization of steel.