Steel Products Prices North America

SMU Price Ranges & Indices: Essentially Unchanged for Another Week
Written by John Packard
July 26, 2016
Flat rolled steel prices remained essentially unchanged for yet another week. We did pick up a break in the $600 barrier on hot rolled steel. However, we were only able to tie that price level to one Canadian mill into the Chicago market. The other mills appear to be holding much closer to $610-$620 per ton with some higher price offers reaching the $640 per ton mark. We moved both the high and low end of the range for HRC with the net result being no change.
When it comes to cold rolled we found one small mill below $40.00/cwt but most mills are above that level. When it came to coated steels we did not find any mill breaking through the $40.00/cwt base level and, in fact we spoke with a couple of mills who reported after a surge in orders at the lower level there was not need to go down to $40.00/cwt and most mills were reported to have their galvanized base prices at $40.50/cwt-$41.50/cwt.
Here is how we see prices this week:
Hot Rolled Coil: SMU Range is $590-$640 per ton ($29.50/cwt- $32.00/cwt) with an average of $615 per ton ($30.75/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range declined $10 per ton compared to one week ago while the upper end increased $10 per ton. Our overall average is unchanged over last week. Our price momentum on hot rolled steel is for prices to remain range-bound (+/- $20 per ton) over the next 30 days.
Hot Rolled Lead Times: 2-5 weeks
Cold Rolled Coil: SMU Range is $790-$840 per ton ($39.50/cwt- $42.00/cwt) with an average of $815 per ton ($40.75/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range decreased $10 per ton compared to last week while the upper end remained the same. Our overall average is down $5 per ton over one week ago. Our price momentum on cold rolled steel is for prices to remain range-bound (+/- $20 per ton) over the next 30 days.
Cold Rolled Lead Times: 4-8 weeks
Galvanized Coil: SMU Base Price Range is $40.00/cwt-$42.00/cwt ($800-$840 per ton) with an average of $41.00/cwt ($820 per ton) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range remained the same compared to one week ago while the upper end declined $10 per ton. Our overall average is down $5 per ton over last week. Our price momentum on galvanized steel is for prices to be range bound (+/- $20 per ton) over the next 30 days.
Galvanized .060” G90 Benchmark: SMU Range is $860-$900 per net ton with an average of $880 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvanized Lead Times: 5-9 weeks
Galvalume Coil: SMU Base Price Range is $40.00/cwt-$43.00/cwt ($800-$860 per ton) with an average of $41.50/cwt ($830 per ton) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. Both the lower and upper ends of our range remained the same compared to last week. Our overall average is unchanged over one week ago. Our price momentum on Galvalume steel is for prices to be range-bound (+/- $20 per ton) over the next 30 days.
Galvalume .0142” AZ50, Grade 80 Benchmark: SMU Range is $1091-$1151 per net ton with an average of $1121 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvalume Lead Times: 6-8 weeks
SMU Note: Below is a graphic showing our hot rolled, cold rolled, galvanized, and Galvalume price history. To use the graphs interactive capabilities, you must view it on our website here. If you need help navigating the website or need to know your login information, contact us at info@SteelMarketUpdate.com or by calling 800-432-3475.

John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Steel Products Prices North America

Thin demand keeps plate prices hovering at lowest levels since February
Participants in the domestic plate market say spot prices appear to have hit the floor, and they continue to linger there. They say demand for steel remains thin, with plate products no exception.

SMU Price Ranges: HR crawls back to $800/ton
SMU’s HR price stands at $800/st on average, up $5/st from last week. The modest gain came as the low end of our range firmed, and despite the high end of our range declining slightly.

SMU successfully completes IOSCO review
SMU has successfully completed an external review of all our prices. The review has concluded that they algin with principles set by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).

Domestic plate prices could heat up despite so-so demand, market sources say
Some sources also speculated that plate could see further price increases thanks to modest but steady demand, lower imports, mill maintenance outages, and end markets less immediately affected by tariff-related disruptions.

SMU Price Ranges: HR holds, galv slips amid competing market narratives
SMU’s sheet and plate prices see-sawed this week as hot-rolled (HR) coil prices held their ground while prices for galvanized product slipped.