Prices
January 14, 2020
Written by Brett Linton
The U.S. exported 601,290 tons of steel in November, according to final Census data, a 15 percent decrease from October and down 2 percent from the same month one year ago. This is the lowest level seen since June 2019.
November exports were 3.5 percent below the 2019 average of 623,059 tons, and remain significantly muted compared to recent years as shown in the purple line graph below.
Sheet and plate prices continued to move higher on market dynamics that have carried headlines for much of the second half of the year: scarce spot tons, long lead times, production delays, lean inventories, and stable demand.
Nucor's consumer spot price for hot-rolled increased by $10/st w/w on Monday, Oct. 5 to $1,230 per short ton.
SSAB Americas aims to increase base plate prices by at least $60 per short ton (st), according to a letter sent to customers on Monday.
Nucor said on Thursday evening it plans to increase plate prices by $60 per short ton (st) as it opens its November order book.
Sheet and plate prices continued to inch higher on a combination of scarce spot tons, long lead times, lean inventories, and stable demand.