SMU Data and Models

SMU Comparison Price Indices: Sideways to Small Ticks Higher
Written by John Packard
December 29, 2013
This past week we saw little movement in pricing on most flat rolled steel products due to the Holidays and a general lack of new orders flowing through the system. Benchmark hot rolled is in a fairly tight range at $667 on the low side (CRU) to $675 on the high side (Platts/Steelbenchmarker). The hot rolled average of the indices we follow on a regular basis was $671 per ton.
Cold rolled had a wider range from a low of $770 (Steel Orbis) to a high of $790 (CRU) the average was $781 per ton.
The galvanized range was $830 (Steel Orbis) to $843 (CRU) with an average of $838 per ton. This is based on .060” G90.
Galvalume ranged from $1081 to $1101 per ton for .0142” AZ50, Grade 80 with an average of $1091 per ton.
Plate, our newest addition, ranged from $753 (CRU) to $787 (Steelbenchmarker) with an average of $767 per ton.
FOB Points for each index:
SMU: Domestic Mill, East of the Rockies.
CRU: Midwest Mill, East of the Rockies.
SteelBenchmarker: Domestic Mill, East of the Mississippi.
SteelOrbis: Midwest Domestic Mill.
Platts: Within 200-300 mile radius of Northern Indiana Domestic Mill.

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

SMU Scrap Survey: Current and Future Sentiment tick down
SMU’s Current Sentiment Index for scrap decreased this month, a move mirrored by our Future Sentiment Index, according to the latest data from our ferrous scrap survey.

SMU Survey: Buyers’ Sentiment slips again, future outlook improves
Each of our Sentiment Indices continues to reflect that steel buyers are positive about their present and future business prospects, though that confidence has eased considerably compared to the beginning of the year.

SMU scrap market survey results now available
SMU’s October ferrous scrap market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members.

SMU flat-rolled market survey results now available
SMU’s latest steel buyers market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members.

SMU Survey: Sheet and plate lead times stabilize
Sheet and plate lead times saw minor shifts this week, according to SMU’s latest market survey. Sheet times have inched up over the last month but remain within days of multi-year lows, as they have since May. Plate lead times have bobbed within a tight range for months, hovering roughly a week longer than this time last year.