International Steel Prices

Chinese Steel Prices Surging
Written by John Packard
July 24, 2017
Steel Market Update (SMU) sources in China have provided pricing guidance on a number of steel products coming out of China. We are seeing steel prices rising in China due to higher commodity prices (example: iron ore this morning was $69.70 per dry metric ton for 62% Fe, according to The Steel Index).
The following prices were provided to Steel Market Update by Beijing Metal Import and Export Co. and were dated July 23, 2017, for July shipment:
Beijing Metal advised more details for new pricing (July shipment):
For HRC, 2.0mm thickness now is around USD510-515/mt FOB
For GI, 1.0mm thickness now is around 605-610/mt FOB
Another one of our sources advised September prices are running $545/MT on 2.0 mm HRC. This is about $30 per ton higher than July pricing. Converted to net tons, the pricing is $600 per net ton (FOB China).
China is not shipping any hot rolled coil, cold rolled or coated to the United States due to existing antidumping and countervailing duties imposed on Chinese steels by the U.S. government.

John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in International Steel Prices

Gap between US HR and landed import prices starts to narrow
The price gap between stateside hot band and landed offshore product narrowed this week. Still, with the 50% Section 232 tariff, most imports remain much more expensive than domestic material.

Little change in price gap between US HR, imports
SMU’s average price for domestic hot-rolled (HR) coil held at $785 per short ton (st) this week, unchanged week on week (w/w). A similar dynamic was seen in offshore markets last week as well.

Price gap between US CR, most imports narrows
Cold-rolled (CR) coil prices ticked up in the US this week, matching a similar trend seen in offshore markets as well.

Domestic HR and offshore import prices continue to diverge
With only a modest decline in US prices, HR imports, on a landed basis, remain much more expensive than domestic hot band.

Price gap between US CR, most imports widens
Cold-rolled (CR) coil prices ticked lower in the US this week, while prices in offshore markets mostly diverged and ticked higher.