Steel Products Prices North America

Comparison Price Indices: More of the Same, Mixed Spot Pricing
Written by John Packard
December 3, 2017
We had yet another week of “mixed” spot pricing in flat rolled and plate products, according to the Steel Market Update (SMU), Platts and SteelBenchmarker steel price indexes.
Benchmark hot rolled was down for the week, according to the SMU and Platts steel price indexes. SMU saw the HRC price average as $615 per ton, down $5 compared to the previous week. Platts declined by $10 to $617 per ton, while SteelBenchmarker reported HRC prices up $9 per ton to $618. SteelBenchmarker only produces their price indices twice per month, so the change in their number needs to be taken with that in mind.
Cold rolled was also mixed with Platts reporting CRC up $10 to $797 per ton. SMU reported the CRC price average as unchanged compared to the prior week, and SteelBenchmarker had CRC prices $4 per ton lower.
SMU saw galvanized up $10 per ton with .060” G90 galvanized now averaging $848 per ton.
Galvalume was flat week-over-week at $1,061 per ton for .0142” AZ50, Grade 80.
Plate prices were also mixed with Platts taking their number up by $22 per ton, SteelBenchmarker was down $7 per ton and SMU was unchanged. Note: the SMU number is freight prepaid to the end customer, while the Platts/SteelBenchmarker indices are FOB Mill.
SMU Note: Galvanized prices include $78 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.
Plate price FOB points are different for each of the indexes:
SMU: FOB Delivered to the Customer (includes freight)
Platts: FOB Southeaster Mill (does not include freight)
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 The weeks where they do not produce numbers (NA = not available) we will not include their outdated numbers in the CPI average.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

HRC-galvanized price gap edges higher
The premium galvanized coil carries over hot-rolled coil (HRC) coil has marginally widened in recent months. As of Sept. 16, the spread between these two products reached a three-month high of $175 per short ton (st), though it is still low by historical standards.

SMU Price Ranges: HR slips, hopes for Q4 rebound still standing
SMU’s price ranges were mixed again this week as the market continues to seek a floor amid industry hopes for a Q4 rebound.

Nucor’s hot band list price holds at $875/ton
Nucor held its hot-rolled coil list price flat again this week, according to its Monday, Sept. 15 consumer spot price (CSP) notice.

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.