Steel Products Prices North America
Comparison Price Indices: Ho Hum Week
Written by John Packard
July 17, 2016
Flat rolled prices had a relatively “ho hum” week as we saw very little movement in any of the indexes with the exception of SteelBenchmarker which only produces prices twice per month.
Benchmark hot rolled prices ranged from a low (average) from our own index which came in at $620 per ton for a second week. Platts remained unchanged at $630 per ton while SteelBenchmarker came in at $628 per ton. The average for the three indexes is $626 per ton.
Cold rolled prices were similar to that of HRC only $200 per ton higher. The SMU cold rolled average was down $5 per ton to $820 per ton. Platts remained unchanged at $830 per ton while SteelBenchmarker came in up $11 to $824 per ton. The average of the three indexes came in at $825 per ton.
Both galvanized (.060” G90) and Galvalume (.0142” AZ50, Grade 80) were unchanged.
SMU Price Momentum Indicator continues to be referenced as “Neutral” meaning our expectation is for prices to track sideways (+/- $20 per ton) over the next 30 days.
FOB Points for each index:
SMU: Domestic Mill, East of the Rockies.
SteelBenchmarker: Domestic Mill, East of the Mississippi.
Platts: Northern Indiana Domestic Mill.
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.