Overseas
June 11, 2015
Analysis of World Export vs. Domestic Hot Rolled Coil Price Spread
Written by Brett Linton
One of the key items Steel Market Update watches is the spread between world hot rolled export pricing and the HRC spot price average here in the United States.
The following calculation is used by Steel Market Update in order to identify the spread between world hot rolled export prices as determined by SteelBenchmarker and domestic (US) hot rolled prices determined by SMU. Steel Market Update compares the world hot rolled export price to which dollars are added for freight, handling, trader margin, etc. The number generated is then compared to the spot (FOB Mill) domestic hot rolled price using the SMU Hot Rolled Index average for this week, with the result being the spread between domestic and world hot rolled coil prices. This is a ‘theoretical’ calculation as freight costs, trader margin and other costs can fluctuate.

