Steel Products Prices North America
SMU Price Ranges & Indices: Modest Increases
Written by John Packard
July 6, 2017
Steel Market Update saw modest improvements in flat rolled steel prices mostly associated with reductions of the discounts found at the lower end of the ranges. There are a number of mills that are waiting to see what happens with the Section 232 investigation before announcing new prices or opening their order books for the next business segment. The mills may be forced to open their books without a clear indication as to what is going to happen with Section 232. So, the market sits and waits.
Here is how we see prices this week:
Hot Rolled Coil: SMU price range is $590-$630 per ton ($29.50/cwt-$31.50/cwt) with an average of $610 per ton ($30.50/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range remained the same compared to one week ago, while the upper end increased $10 per ton. Our overall average is up $5 per ton compared to last week. Our price momentum on hot rolled steel is now pointing to Higher indicating prices are expected to increase over the next 30-60 days.
Hot Rolled Lead Times: 2-6 weeks
Cold Rolled Coil: SMU price range is $780-$820 per ton ($39.00/cwt-$41.00/cwt) with an average of $800 per ton ($40.00/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range increased $20 per ton compared to last week, while the upper end remained the same. Our overall average is up $10 per ton compared to one week ago. Our price momentum on cold rolled steel is pointing to Higher indicating prices are expected to increase over the next 30-60 days.
Cold Rolled Lead Times: 5-8 weeks
Galvanized Coil: SMU base price range is $39.50/cwt-$42.00/cwt ($790-$840 per ton) with an average of $40.75/cwt ($815 per ton) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range increased $30 per ton compared to one week ago, while the upper end increased $10 per ton. Our overall average is up $20 per ton compared to last week. Our price momentum on galvanized steel is pointing to Higher indicating prices are expected to increase over the next 30-60 days.
Galvanized .060” G90 Benchmark: SMU price range is $868-$918 per net ton with an average of $893 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvanized Lead Times: 5-9 weeks
Galvalume Coil: SMU base price range is $40.00/cwt-$41.50/cwt ($800-$830 per ton) with an average of $40.75/cwt ($815 per ton) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range increased $20 per ton compared to last week, while the upper end remained the same. Our overall average is up $10 per ton compared to last week. Our price momentum on Galvalume steel is pointing to Higher indicating prices are expected to increase over the next 30-60 days.
Galvalume .0142” AZ50, Grade 80 Benchmark: SMU price range is $1,091-$1,121 per net ton with an average of $1,106 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvalume Lead Times: 5-8 weeks
Plate: SMU price range is $710-$770 per ton ($35.50/cwt-$38.50/cwt) with an average of $740 per ton ($37.00/cwt) FOB delivered. The lower end of our range decreased $30 per ton compared to one week ago, while the upper end remained the same. Our overall average is down $15 per ton compared to last week. Our price momentum on plate steel is pointing to Higher indicating prices are expected to increase over the next 30-60 days.
Plate Lead Times: 4-6 weeks
SMU Note: Below is a graphic showing our hot rolled, cold rolled, galvanized, and Galvalume price history. We will add plate prices to this graph once we have gathered a few months of data. To use the graph’s 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
CRU: Longs pricing trends diverge in North, South America
Most longs prices in the US were unchanged this month, except for rebar, which declined by $1.50/cwt ($30/short ton) m/m. While end-use demand is stable, inventories are well-stocked, keeping purchases limited. Domestic availability is sufficient to meet current demand, hindering the appetite for imported material. Meanwhile, prices for scrap remained under pressure in June, with […]
Nucor cuts plate prices by $125/ton, cites ongoing competition
Nucor Corp. announced that its plate mill group would cut prices for as-rolled, discrete, and normalized plate with the opening of its August order book.
Nucor cuts HR price for fourth straight week
Nucor lowered its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled (HR) coil by another $10 per short ton (st) for the first week of July. The steelmaker said in a letter to customers on Monday that its CSP base price for the week will be $670/st for all of its sheet mills with the exception of California Steel Industries (CSI).
Cliffs sets $720/ton HR price with opening of August books
Cleveland-Cliffs on Tuesday announced its monthly hot-rolled (HR) coil price of $720 per short ton (st) with the official opening of its August order book. The rate is down from last month’s price of $800/st.
CRU: Demand weakness continues to weigh on global sheet markets
Demand has remained persistently weak across the globe for sheet steel, weighing on prices. US HR coil prices fell the furthest this week as high-volume, low-priced deals were transacted as mills looked to fill order books and competed with one another amid relative demand weakness. Meanwhile, European prices were also down due to low demand […]