Steel Products Prices North America
August Imports Forecast to Increase by 6.8% over July
Written by John Packard
September 5, 2013
Based on the most recent compiled license data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, total steel imports are poised to rise by 6.8 percent in August compared to the prior month. August imports are forecast to be 2,691,265 net tons which are above both the 3 month and 12 month moving averages. August imports are forecast to be up 9.5 percent compared to June imports.
When looking at semi-finished we see higher flows of slabs which we believe are due to the CSA slab mill bringing their #2 blast furnace back online and beginning to replenish the ThyssenKrupp Steel USA mill in Alabama.
Imports of all of the other flat rolled products followed by Steel Market Update on a regular basis are forecast to be higher in August than both the prior month as well as above the 3MMA and 12MMA.
What will be interesting to watch from here are the months of September and October which could be much higher on flat rolled products due to the increases in domestic steel prices which began in late May.
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Steel Products Prices North America
SMU price ranges: Flat-rolled balloon continues to leak
Sheet and plate prices were flat or lower again this week on continued concerns about demand and higher production rates among US mills.
HRC vs. busheling spread narrows in August
The price spread between prime scrap and hot-rolled coil (HRC) narrowed in August, according to SMU’s most recent pricing data.
SMU Price Ranges: Market drifts lower still
All five of SMU's steel sheet and plate price indices declined this week, falling to lows last seen in February.
Discontentment brews in plate market with flat, status-quo pricing
Sources in the carbon and alloy steel plate market said they are less discouraged by market uncertainty resulting from tariffs or foreign relations, but are instead, eager to see disruption to the flat pricing environment.
Nucor lowers HR coil spot price by $15/ton
Nucor has implemented a double-digit price decrease on spot hot-rolled (HR) coil for the second consecutive week.