Steel Products Prices North America
August Foreign Steel Import Licenses Trending Toward 3.0 Million Tons
Written by John Packard
September 1, 2015
Earlier today the U. S. Department of Commerce released the latest license data through the 1st of September. Based on license data August total steel imports will be 3.0 million net tons. If confirmed when the Final Census data is released August will be the lowest tonnage so far this year.
When looking at flat rolled items we are seeing hot rolled as remaining essentially unchanged from the three month moving average. Coiled plate was modestly lower as was cold rolled.
Galvanized imports are expected to be about 274,000 tons which is about 25,000 tons lower than the 3 month and 12 month moving average.
Galvalume numbers continue to be about the same as we have been seeing over the past twelve months.
Cut plate is down significantly and is expected to be slightly less than 75,000 tons, well below the 112,300 ton 3-month moving average and the 160,564 ton 12-month moving average.
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Steel Products Prices North America
SMU price ranges: Flat-rolled balloon continues to leak
Sheet and plate prices were flat or lower again this week on continued concerns about demand and higher production rates among US mills.
HRC vs. busheling spread narrows in August
The price spread between prime scrap and hot-rolled coil (HRC) narrowed in August, according to SMU’s most recent pricing data.
SMU Price Ranges: Market drifts lower still
All five of SMU's steel sheet and plate price indices declined this week, falling to lows last seen in February.
Discontentment brews in plate market with flat, status-quo pricing
Sources in the carbon and alloy steel plate market said they are less discouraged by market uncertainty resulting from tariffs or foreign relations, but are instead, eager to see disruption to the flat pricing environment.
Nucor lowers HR coil spot price by $15/ton
Nucor has implemented a double-digit price decrease on spot hot-rolled (HR) coil for the second consecutive week.