Steel Products Prices North America
SMU Price Ranges & Indices: A Brief Pause?
Written by Brett Linton
January 21, 2020
Steel prices, which have been trending upward for the past two months, gave a bit back this past week, according to Steel Market Update’s latest check of the market. Whether this is a change of direction or just a brief pause remains to be seen, but SMU’s Price Momentum Indicator continues to point higher.
Here is how we see prices this week:
Hot Rolled Coil: SMU price range is $570-$610 per ton ($28.50-$30.50/cwt) with an average of $590 per ton ($29.50/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 decreased $30 per ton. Our overall average is down $20 per ton over last week. Our price momentum on hot rolled steel is Higher, meaning we expect prices to increase over the next 30 days.
Hot Rolled Lead Times: 3-7 weeks
Cold Rolled Coil: SMU price range is $760-$820 per ton ($38.00-$41.00/cwt) with an average of $790 per ton ($39.50/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range remained the same compared to last week, while the upper end decreased $20 per ton. Our overall average is down $10 per ton over one week ago. Our price momentum on cold rolled steel is Higher, meaning we expect prices to increase over the next 30 days.
Cold Rolled Lead Times: 4-8 weeks
Galvanized Coil: SMU base price range is $37.50-$40.50/cwt ($750-$810 per ton) with an average of $39.00/cwt ($780 per ton) 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 decreased $30 per ton. Our overall average is down $20 per ton over last week. Our price momentum on galvanized steel is Higher, meaning we expect prices to increase over the next 30 days.
Galvanized .060” G90 Benchmark: SMU price range is $819-$879 per net ton with an average of $849 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvanized Lead Times: 4-10 weeks
Galvalume Coil: SMU base price range is $38.00-$41.50/cwt ($760-$830 per ton) with an average of $39.75/cwt ($795 per ton) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range remained the same compared to last week, while the upper end decreased $10 per ton. Our overall average is down $5 per ton over one week ago. Our price momentum on Galvalume steel is Higher, meaning we expect prices to increase over the next 30 days.
Galvalume .0142” AZ50, Grade 80 Benchmark: SMU price range is $1,051-$1,121 per net ton with an average of $1,086 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvalume Lead Times: 7-8 weeks
Plate: SMU price range is $680-$740 per ton ($34.00-$37.00/cwt) with an average of $710 per ton ($35.50/cwt) FOB delivered to the customer’s facility. The lower end of our range remained the same compared to one week ago, while the upper end increased $20 per ton. Our overall average is up $10 per ton over last week. Our price momentum on plate steel is Higher, meaning we expect prices to increase over the next 30 days.
Plate Lead Times: 4-6 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
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.
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.