Steel Products Prices North America
January Imports Continue Trend Toward Low to Mid 2 Million Tons
Written by John Packard
January 19, 2016
The U.S. Department of Commerce released foreign steel import license data for the month of January. Based on license data through the 19th of January steel imports are trending toward a 2.3-2.5 million net ton month. If the trend continues the month would be well below both the 3 month and 12 month moving averages and in line with November and December.
SMU likes to look at the data and compare it against other months at this point of the month (approximately 16-22 days of license data). We want to see how the daily license rate compares and as you can see by the table below January daily rate is below that of September, October, November and December. We have highlighted the four main flat rolled products and provided their trend line during this time period to give you a better feel for the direction imports of these products are headed.
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Steel Products Prices North America
SMU Price Ranges: Sheet and plate steady ahead of Independence Day
Sheet and plate prices were little changed in the shortened week ahead of Independence Day, according to SMU’s latest check of the market.
Nucor maintains plate prices, opens August order book
Nucor aims to keep plate prices flat again with the opening of its August order book.
Nucor CSP remains level at $900/ton
Nucor maintained its weekly list price for hot-rolled (HR) coil this week, following two consecutive increases.
Cliffs raises prices, seeks $950/ton for July spot HR
Cleveland-Cliffs plans to increase prices for hot-rolled (HR) coil to $950 per short ton (st) with the opening of its July spot order book. The Cleveland-based steelmaker said the price hike was effective immediately in a letter to customers dated Monday.
HRC vs. prime scrap spread widens in June
The price spread between HRC and prime scrap widened in June.