Steel Products Prices North America

December Foreign Steel Imports Trending Toward 2.6 Million Tons
Written by John Packard
December 12, 2017
The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) released new import license data this evening. Steel Market Update has done a quick analysis of the data and foreign steel imports for the month of December are trending toward a 2.6 million net ton month (November license data was very similar at this time of the month yet ended up at 2.8 million tons).
Semi-finished imports (mostly slabs) are trending approximately 200,000 tons higher than what we saw in November. Finished imports (less semi’s) are trending toward 1.9 million tons which would be 400,000 tons lower than November and 600,000 tons below October levels (as well as the 12-month and 3-month moving averages).
This is still very early in the month and much can change between now and the end of December. The table below is based on the daily average for licenses assuming the rate will continue for the balance of the month.

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

SMU Price Ranges: Sheet and plate steady ahead of Independence Day
Sheet and plate prices were little changed in the shortened week ahead of Independence Day, according to SMU’s latest check of the market.

Nucor maintains plate prices, opens August order book
Nucor aims to keep plate prices flat again with the opening of its August order book.

Nucor CSP remains level at $900/ton
Nucor maintained its weekly list price for hot-rolled (HR) coil this week, following two consecutive increases.

Cliffs raises prices, seeks $950/ton for July spot HR
Cleveland-Cliffs plans to increase prices for hot-rolled (HR) coil to $950 per short ton (st) with the opening of its July spot order book. The Cleveland-based steelmaker said the price hike was effective immediately in a letter to customers dated Monday.

HRC vs. prime scrap spread widens in June
The price spread between HRC and prime scrap widened in June.