Steel Products Prices North America
SMU Price Ranges & Indices: Prices Still Moving Higher
Written by John Packard
April 19, 2016
Steel prices continued to rise over the past week. A number of buyers are reporting mills as being on allocation (or not open at this time) which is keeping prices very close to the announced levels made over the past two weeks. In some cases, buyers are reporting mills as asking for premiums above the “suggested minimum” pricing.
Having said all of that here is how we see spot flat rolled prices this week (all prices shown are in net tons which are equal to 2,000 pounds):
Hot Rolled Coil: SMU Range is $490-$520 per ton ($24.50/cwt- $26.00/cwt) with an average of $505 per ton ($25.25/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of the range was up $10 per ton while the upper end increased by $20 per ton compared to one week ago. Our overall average is up $15 per ton over last week. SMU price momentum for hot rolled steel has prices rising over the next 30 days.
Hot Rolled Lead Times: 4-10 weeks (many mills order books are full or closed)
Cold Rolled Coil: SMU Range is $660-$710 per ton ($33.00/cwt- $35.50/cwt) with an average of $685 per ton ($34.25/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range increased $40 per ton compared to last week while the upper end increased $50 per ton. Our overall average increased $45 per ton over one week ago. SMU price momentum for cold rolled steel is for prices to increase over the next 30 days.
Cold Rolled Lead Times: 5-12 weeks.
Galvanized Coil: SMU Base Price Range is $34.50/cwt-$35.50/cwt ($690-$710 per ton) with an average of $35.00/cwt ($700 per ton) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range increased $40 per ton compared to one week ago while the upper end increased $20 per ton. Our overall average is up $30 per ton over last week. Our price momentum on galvanized steel is for prices to move higher over the next 30 days.
Galvanized .060” G90 Benchmark: SMU Range is $750-$770 per net ton with an average of $760 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvanized Lead Times: 5-12 weeks.
Galvalume Coil: SMU Base Price Range is $34.50/cwt-$35.50/cwt ($690-$710 per ton) with an average base of $35.00/cwt ($700 per ton) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range increased $30 per ton compared to last week while the upper end increased $20 per ton. Our overall average increased $25 per ton over one week ago. Our price momentum for Galvalume steel is currently pointing towards an increase in prices over the next 30 days.
Galvalume Lead Times: 5-9 weeks.
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John Packard
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