Steel Products Prices North America
November Steel Import Trend Analysis
Written by John Packard
November 13, 2014
This week Steel Market Update is going to do something different with the import license data which has been released by the U.S. Department of Commerce through November 12th. Instead of us providing a projected total for the month of November, we thought it might be more worthwhile to compare the daily license average through the 12th of November with the averages from July, August, September and November at this same point of the month (2nd week of the month).
As you can see the daily average (all steel items) for November is quite similar to August. When August finally closed, the total imports were almost 3.7 million tons.
In the two tables listed below:
The first table shows the average daily license rate through the second week of the month for July, August, September, October and November (through the 12th).
The second table shows the final census numbers through September and final license numbers for the month of October.
You can then make your own comparisons and determinations regarding whether November 2014 will be another major import month for the United States or are imports beginning to wane? In November 2013 the U.S. received 2,592,549 net tons. Our expectation is the U.S. will be in excess of 3.0 million net tons during the month of November 2014.
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Steel Products Prices North America
Nucor lifts HR spot price by $10/ton
Nucor has raised its weekly spot list price on hot-rolled coil by $10 per short ton (st) after keeping it unchanged since Aug. 25.
Atlas Tube up $50/ton following NLMK USA sheet price hike
Atlas Tube, in a leading move, said it aims to increase prices for mechanical tubing, hollow structural sections (HSS), and piling products by at least $50 per short ton (st).
NLMK USA up $50/ton on HR and CR, up $100/ton on coated
NLMK USA plans to increase prices for hot-rolled and cold-rolled coil by at least $50 per short ton (st). The move is effective immediately for all spot orders, the steelmaker said in a letter to customers on Friday.
SMU Price Ranges: Sheet floor holds as market debates upside
Our average HR coil price increased $5/short ton from last week, marking a second consecutive week of modest gains. Market participants generally attributed the increase to...
Thin demand keeps plate prices hovering at lowest levels since February
Participants in the domestic plate market say spot prices appear to have hit the floor, and they continue to linger there. They say demand for steel remains thin, with plate products no exception.