Steel Products Prices North America
SMU Price Ranges & Indices: Flat Rolled Prices Slip
Written by Brett Linton
August 21, 2018
Flat rolled steel prices moved lower over the past week. Benchmark hot rolled coil dropped to $885 per ton and momentum continues to point toward lower prices on all but plate products.
Here is how we see prices this week:
Hot Rolled Coil: SMU price range is $860-$910 per ton ($43.00/cwt-$45.50/cwt) with an average of $885 per ton ($44.25/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range declined $10 per ton compared to one week ago, while the upper end remained the same. Our overall average is down $5 per ton compared to last week. Our price momentum on hot rolled steel is Lower meaning we expect prices to decline over the next 30 to 60 days.
Hot Rolled Lead Times: 3-6 weeks
Cold Rolled Coil: SMU price range is $960-$1,010 per ton ($48.00/cwt-$50.50/cwt) with an average of $985 per ton ($49.25/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range declined $10 per ton compared to last week, while the upper remained the same. Our overall average is down $5 per ton compared to one week ago. Our price momentum on cold rolled steel is Lower meaning we expect prices to decline over the next 30 to 60 days.
Cold Rolled Lead Times: 5-8 weeks
Galvanized Coil: SMU base price range is $48.00/cwt-$50.50/cwt ($960-$1,010 per ton) with an average of $49.25/cwt ($985 per ton) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range remained the same compared to one week ago, while the upper end declined $20 per ton. Our overall average is down $10 per ton compared to last week. Our price momentum on galvanized steel is Lower meaning we expect prices to decline over the next 30 to 60 days.
Galvanized .060” G90 Benchmark: SMU price range is $1,046-$1,096 per net ton with an average of $1,071 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvanized Lead Times: 5-9 weeks
Galvalume Coil: SMU base price range is $48.50/cwt-$51.00/cwt ($970-$1,020 per ton) with an average of $49.75/cwt ($995 per ton) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. Both the lower and upper ends of our range declined $10 per ton compared to last week. Our overall average is down $10 per ton compared to one week ago. Our price momentum on Galvalume steel is Lower meaning we expect prices to decline over the next 30 to 60 days.
Galvalume .0142” AZ50, Grade 80 Benchmark: SMU price range is $1,261-$1,311 per net ton with an average of $1,286 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvalume Lead Times: 5-8 weeks
Plate: SMU price range is $960-$1,010 per ton ($48.00/cwt-$50.50/cwt) with an average of $985 per ton ($49.25/cwt) FOB the customer’s facility for orders to be delivered during the month of October. The lower end of our range remained the same compared to one week ago, while the upper end rose $10 per ton. Our overall average is up $5 per ton compared to last week. Our price momentum on plate steel is for higher prices once the mills open their October order books. The plate mills are on controlled order entry and are expected to remain that way over the next 30 days or longer.
Plate Lead Times: 5-9 weeks, allocation/controlled order entry
SMU Note: Below is a graphic showing our hot rolled, cold rolled, galvanized, Galvalume and plate price history. This data is available here on our website with our interactive pricing tool. Note that plate prices are not yet available on our website, but we are in the process of adding that dataset. If you need help navigating the website or need to know your login information, contact us at info@SteelMarketUpdate.com or 800-432-3475.
Brett Linton
Read more from Brett LintonLatest in Steel Products Prices North America
SMU Price Ranges: Sheet floor holds as market debates upside
Our average HR coil price increased $5/short ton from last week, marking a second consecutive week of modest gains. Market participants generally attributed the increase to...
Thin demand keeps plate prices hovering at lowest levels since February
Participants in the domestic plate market say spot prices appear to have hit the floor, and they continue to linger there. They say demand for steel remains thin, with plate products no exception.
SMU Price Ranges: HR crawls back to $800/ton
SMU’s HR price stands at $800/st on average, up $5/st from last week. The modest gain came as the low end of our range firmed, and despite the high end of our range declining slightly.
SMU successfully completes IOSCO review
SMU has successfully completed an external review of all our prices. The review has concluded that they algin with principles set by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).
Domestic plate prices could heat up despite so-so demand, market sources say
Some sources also speculated that plate could see further price increases thanks to modest but steady demand, lower imports, mill maintenance outages, and end markets less immediately affected by tariff-related disruptions.