Steel Products Prices North America

Comparison Price Indices: Numbers Start Moving Higher
Written by John Packard
March 12, 2017
Flat rolled prices have begun to move higher based on the most recent analysis of the steel price indexes from last week that are followed by Steel Market Update (SMU).
Benchmark hot rolled prices were up $10 per ton on our own index while Platts took their average up $7.50 per ton by the end of this past week. SMU has our average at $635 per ton while Platts came in with a $637.50 average.
Cold rolled prices remained the same at SMU at $835 per ton while Platts average on CRC rose to $840 per ton, up $10 from the previous week’s results.
Galvanized prices did not change this past week as SMU average for .060” G90 was once again $909 per ton.
SMU saw Galvalume spot prices as being up $5 per ton for the week with .0142” AZ50, Grade 80 now averaging $1136 per ton.
The extras being used for both the .060” G90 galvanized and Galvalume are referenced below the table shown below. Buyers note: the galvanized extras will be changed beginning with this week’s price analysis (see article on coating extra comparison in tonight’s issue).
Plate prices remained the same at $710 per ton as they were for the week ending March 3, 2017.
SMU Note: Galvanized prices include $69 in extras for a .060″ G90 product. Galvalume prices include $291 in extras for a .0142” AZ50 Grade 80 product.
FOB points for each index:
SMU: Domestic Mill, East of the Rockies.
SteelBenchmarker: Domestic Mill, East of the Mississippi.
Platts: Northern Indiana Domestic Mill.
Note that SteelBenchmarker produces numbers twice per month. On the weeks they produce numbers we will include them in the average. The weeks where they do not produce numbers (NA = not available) we will not include their outdated numbers in the CPI average.

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

Market says cutting interest rates will spur stalled domestic plate demand
Market sources say demand for domestic plate refuses to budge despite stagnating prices.

SMU Price Ranges: Some predict bottom is near as big discounts dry up
Sheet prices were mixed this week as some mills continued to offer significant discounts to larger buyers while others have shifted toward being more disciplined, market participants said.

SMU Price Ranges: Tags mixed as uncertainty weighs on market
SMU’s hot-rolled (HR) coil price held steady this week while prices for other sheet and plate products declined.

Nucor spot HR list price unchanged at $875/ton
Nucor kept its weekly list price for hot-rolled (HR) coil unchanged this week, following a price bump of $10 per short ton (st) last week.

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.