Steel Products Prices North America

SMU Price Ranges & Indices: All is Quiet Due to Holidays
Written by John Packard
December 30, 2014
There is one word that comes to mind when trying to write about the status of steel prices: quiet. All is quiet as the few buyers that remain in their offices are spending precious little time buying new steel. With limited information available we have chosen to keep our price ranges and indices the same as last week and we will sort it all out again next week when everyone is back to work.
Here is how we see flat rolled prices this week:
Hot Rolled Coil: SMU Range is $580-$620 per ton ($29.00/cwt- $31.00/cwt) with an average of $600 per ton ($30.00/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. Both the upper and lower ends of our range are unchanged compared to last week. Our average is the same as one week ago. SMU price momentum for hot rolled steel is for prices to drift and trend lower over the next 30 days.
Hot Rolled Lead Times: 2-5 weeks.
Cold Rolled Coil: SMU Range is $690-$740 per ton ($34.50/cwt- $37.00/cwt) with an average of $715 per ton ($35.75/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. Both the upper and lower ends of our range are unchanged compared to one week ago. Our average is the same as last week. SMU price momentum on cold rolled steel is for prices to drift and trend lower over the next 30 days.
Cold Rolled Lead Times: 4-9 weeks.
Galvanized Coil: SMU Base Price Range is $34.50/cwt-$37.50/cwt ($690-$750 per ton) with an average of $36.00/cwt ($720 per ton) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. Both the upper and lower ends of our range are unchanged compared to last week. Our average is the same as one week ago. SMU anticipates galvanized prices will drift and trend lower over the next 30 days.
Galvanized .060” G90 Benchmark: SMU Range is $759-$819 per ton with an average of $789 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvanized Lead Times: 4-9 weeks.
Galvalume Coil: SMU Base Price Range is $34.50/cwt-$37.50/cwt ($690-$750 per ton) with an average of $36.00/cwt ($720 per ton) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. Both the upper and lower ends of our range are unchanged compared to one week ago. Our average is the same as last week. Our expectation is for Galvalume prices to drift and trend lower over the next 30 days.
Galvalume .0142” AZ50, Grade 80 Benchmark: SMU Range is $981-$1041 per ton with an average of $1011 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvalume Lead Times: 4-9 weeks.
SMU Note: You can view the interactive graphic below when you are logged into the website and reading the newsletter online. If you have not logged into the website in the past and your username and password, contact us at: info@SteelMarketUpdate.com or by calling 800-432-3475. If you need help navigating the website we would also be happy to assist you.
{amchart id=”110″ Weekly Pricing Article Graph- Use for NEWSLETTER Prices}

John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Steel Products Prices North America

SMU Price Ranges: HR slips, hopes for Q4 rebound still standing
SMU’s price ranges were mixed again this week as the market continues to seek a floor amid industry hopes for a Q4 rebound.

Nucor’s hot band list price holds at $875/ton
Nucor held its hot-rolled coil list price flat again this week, according to its Monday, Sept. 15 consumer spot price (CSP) notice.

Market says cutting interest rates will spur stalled domestic plate demand
Market sources say demand for domestic plate refuses to budge despite stagnating prices.

SMU Price Ranges: Some predict bottom is near as big discounts dry up
Sheet prices were mixed this week as some mills continued to offer significant discounts to larger buyers while others have shifted toward being more disciplined, market participants said.

SMU Price Ranges: Tags mixed as uncertainty weighs on market
SMU’s hot-rolled (HR) coil price held steady this week while prices for other sheet and plate products declined.