Steel Products Prices North America

SMU Price Ranges & Indices: Prices Continue to Decline
Written by Brett Linton
May 14, 2019
Flat rolled and plate steel prices continued their slide this week. There continues to be a wide spread between hot rolled base pricing and that of cold rolled and coated steels. The changes in pricing shown below do not reduce the spreads, which have been running $150-$170 per ton. Normal spreads should be closer to $100-$120 per ton.
Here is how we see prices this week:
Hot Rolled Coil: SMU price range is $580-$670 per ton ($29.00/cwt-$33.50/cwt) with an average of $625 per ton ($31.25/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range fell $20 per ton compared to one week ago, while the upper end declined $10 per ton. Our overall average is down $15 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 days.
Hot Rolled Lead Times: 3-6 weeks
Cold Rolled Coil: SMU price range is $760-$800 per ton ($38.00/cwt-$40.00/cwt) with an average of $780 per ton ($39.00/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range remained the same compared to last week, while the upper end fell $20 per ton. Our overall average is down $10 per ton compared to one week ago. Our price momentum on cold rolled steel is now at Lower, meaning we expect prices to decline over the next 30 days.
Cold Rolled Lead Times: 4-8 weeks
Galvanized Coil: SMU base price range is $38.00/cwt-$40.00/cwt ($760-$800 per ton) with an average of $39.00/cwt ($780 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 fell $20 per ton. Our overall average is down $10 per ton compared to last week. Our price momentum on galvanized steel is now at Lower, meaning we expect prices to decline over the next 30 days.
Galvanized .060” G90 Benchmark: SMU price range is $838-$878 per net ton with an average of $858 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvanized Lead Times: 5-8 weeks
Galvalume Coil: SMU base price range is $38.00/cwt-$41.00/cwt ($760-$820 per ton) with an average of $39.50/cwt ($790 per ton) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range declined $20 per ton compared to last week, while the upper end remained unchanged. Our overall average is down $10 per ton compared to one week ago. Our price momentum on Galvalume is now at Lower, meaning we expect prices to decline over the next 30 days.
Galvalume .0142” AZ50, Grade 80 Benchmark: SMU price range is $1,051-$1,111 per net ton with an average of $1,081 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvalume Lead Times: 4-8 weeks
Plate: SMU price range is $900-$950 per ton ($45.00/cwt-$47.50/cwt) with an average of $925 per ton ($46.25/cwt) FOB delivered to the customer’s facility. The lower end of our range declined $10 per ton compared to one week ago, while the upper end fell $20 per ton. Our overall average is down $15 compared to last week. Our price momentum on plate steel is Lower, meaning we expect prices to decline over the next 30 days.
Plate Lead Times: 3-6 weeks
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

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.

SMU Price Ranges: HR holds, galv slips amid competing market narratives
SMU’s sheet and plate prices see-sawed this week as hot-rolled (HR) coil prices held their ground while prices for galvanized product slipped.

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.