Steel Products Prices North America

Domestic vs. World Export Hot Rolled Price Spread Widens

Written by Brett Linton

April 20, 2014

The spread between the world hot rolled export price and the SMU USA HR price has widened since our last update by $39 per net ton (NT). The current spread is at the highest level since our data history began at the start of 2012.

Based on the latest SteelBenchmarker price report, the world HR price is $500 per net ton (NT). The spread between the world HR price and the latest Steel Market Update hot rolled price FOB Domestic mill east of the Rockies is $170 per ton. When taking freight, handling and trader’s margin into account (approximately $70 per ton) the spread is reduced to $100 per ton. In late March the spread between world export pricing and SMU indexed pricing was $131 total or $61 including freight and trader’s costs/margin.

This same time last year, the world hot rolled export price (including freight & traders costs/margin) was running with at minimal spread compared to the SMU HR price. By late May and into early June the spread began to increase as US HRC prices started to rise.

With the widening gap between world and domestic HR prices, steel imports are sure to gain even more steam and remain strong throughout Q2 and into Q3.

Brett Linton

Brett Linton is a digital operations analyst for Steel Market Update, where he began his career. Linton has been in the steel industry since 2010. He has held roles as a category manager and strategic insights director at Reibus before returning to SMU in 2024. He is a graduate of The University of North Georgia with a degree in Finance and Accounting. Brett can be reached at brett@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-314-0179.

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