SMU Data and Models

SMU Price Ranges & Indices: Gradual Move Higher
Written by John Packard
December 10, 2013
Steel buyers advised Steel Market Update that there has been very little movement in flat rolled steel prices this week. We did make a correction to the range on galvanized coils adjusting the lower end of the range to $38.50/cwt based on the data we collected directly from buyers this week. We also saw small adjustments on hot rolled and Galvalume.
Buyers advised Steel Market Update that there has been very little discussion from “legitimate” commercial sources at the domestic steel mills regarding price increases. A number of the larger buyers believe that the mills will bide their time before making their next move. However, smaller service centers and the general populace are of the opinion price announcements will be made soon.
Here is how we are seeing prices this week:
Hot Rolled Coil: SMU Range is $660-$690 per ton ($33.00/cwt- $34.50/cwt) with an average of $675 per ton ($33.75/cwt) fob mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range increased by $10 per ton compared to last week while the upper end remained the same. Our average is now $5 per ton higher compared to last week. The trend for hot rolled is for prices to rise over the next 30 days.
Hot Rolled Lead Times: 3-6 weeks.
Cold Rolled Coil: SMU Range is $760-$780 per ton ($38.00/cwt- $40.00/cwt) with an average of $780 per ton ($39.00/cwt) fob mill, east of the Rockies. Both the lower and upper ends of our range remained the same compared to last week. Our average is unchanged compared to last week. The trend for cold rolled is for prices to rise over the next 30 days.
Cold Rolled Lead Times: 5-8 weeks.
Galvanized Coil: SMU Base Price Range is $770-$790 per ton ($38.50/cwt- $39.50/cwt) with an average of $780 per ton ($39.00/cwt) fob mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range increased by $30 per ton compared to last week while the upper end remained the same. Our average is now $15 per ton higher compared to last week. The trend for galvanized is for prices to rise over the next 30 days.
Galvanized .060” G90 Benchmark: SMU Range is $830-$850 per ton with an average of $840 per ton.
Galvanized Lead Times: 4-8 weeks.
Galvalume Coil: SMU Base Price Range is $770-$800 per ton ($38.50/cwt- $40.00/cwt) with an average of $785 per ton ($39.25/cwt) fob mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range increased by $10 per ton compared to last week while the upper end remained the same. Our average is now $5 per ton higher compared to last week. The trend for Galvalume is for prices to rise over the next 30 days.
Galvalume .0142” AZ50, Grade 80 Benchmark: SMU Range is $1061-$1091 per ton with an average of $1076 per ton.
Galvalume Lead Times: 5-8 weeks.
Below is an interactive graph of hot rolled, cold rolled, galvanized and Galvalume averages over the past few months. The graph is only visible when reading the newsletter online. Click on the Read Full Text link just below the Steel Market Update logo to go to the website, log in and read the full issue including the graphics.
{amchart id=”110″ Weekly Pricing Article Graph- Use for NEWSLETTER}

John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in SMU Data and Models

US Hot Band Now Even Cheaper Than Imported HRC
US hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices fell further relative to imported product this week. Domestic hot band remains cheaper than offshore HRC as US tags continue to sink at a sharper rate than those overseas.

Service Center Shipments and Inventories Report for August
Flat Rolled = 54.1 Shipping Days of Supply Plate = 61.2 Shipping Days of Supply Flat Rolled US service center flat-rolled steel inventories eased back in August with stronger shipments. At the end of August, service centers carried 54.1 shipping days of supply, according to adjusted SMU data, down from 56.1 shipping days of supply […]

SMU Steel Demand Index Inches Up
Steel Market Update’s Steel Demand Index remains in contraction territory despite marginal improvement, according to our latest survey data.
HRC vs. Galv Price Spread Widened This Summer
The spread between hot-rolled coil (HRC) and galvanized sheet base prices widened throughout the summer as hot rolled prices declined faster than those of galvanized.
US Prime Scrap, HRC Spread Narrows Further
The spread between hot-rolled coil (HRC) and prime scrap prices continued to narrow this month, according to Steel Market Update’s most recent pricing data.