Steel Products Prices North America
May Steel Imports Trending Toward 2.5 Million Ton Month
Written by John Packard
May 24, 2018
Based on the latest license data from the U.S. Department of Commerce reported earlier this week, we are expecting the trend for May steel imports to total 2.5 million to 2.6 million net tons. We continue to see strength in plate imports, in both coil and sheet. Finished imports are trending toward 2.1 million net tons, which if correct would be approximately 900,000 net tons lower than what was received during the month of April.
OCTG (oil country tubular goods), hot rolled, cold rolled, galvanized and Galvalume are all trending lower than what we saw in April.
Below is a table we use along with a graphic depicting how imports have been trending during the first 19-25 days of a month. What is shown is the daily import license rate, and the May rate is compared against that of April, March, February and January 2018. We are seeing a rising trend in hot rolled, coiled plate and cut plate. All of the other flat rolled items (shaded yellow items) are trending lower.
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Steel Products Prices North America
Nucor carries $875/ton HR list price into week seven
Nucor is keeping hot-rolled (HR) coil prices unchanged again this week, according to its latest consumer spot price (CSP) notice issued on Monday, Oct. 6
SMU Price Ranges: A newsy week sees modest price gains despite a quiet spot market
Market participants predicted that prices should be at or near a bottom. But while most seemed to agree on that point, many also said they saw little upside given a quiet spot market and ongoing concerns about demand.
Nucor increases plate prices by $60/ton
Nucor aims to increase prices for steel plate by $60 per short ton with the opening of its November order book.
Nucor’s $875/ton HR spot price spills into week six
Nucor is keeping hot-rolled (HR) coil prices unchanged again this week, according to its latest consumer spot price (CSP) notice issued on Monday, Sept. 29.
SMU Price Ranges: Sheet and plate flat or down as hopes of rebound meet ‘blah’ demand
Sheet and plate prices were flat or lower this week as less discounting from domestic mills was offset by few signs of an anticipated rebound in demand.