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    SMU Price Ranges & Indices: Momentum Still Lower

    Written by Brett Linton


    Steel prices declined again this week as shutdowns to control the spread of the coronavirus continue to stifle demand. Steel Market Update’s price momentum remains pointed Lower.

    Here is how we are seeing prices this week:

    Brett Linton

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    Plate supply squeeze tightens as demand presses higher

    The domestic plate market is showing few signs of relief for steel buyers. Lead times are stretching well beyond seasonal norms, spot availability has all but evaporated, and mills are drawing hard lines on contract volumes heading into 2027 negotiations. And the supply squeeze will likely intensify in a market that some industry sources say is structurally undersupplied because of stringent US trade and tariff policies. Imports have been arriving in larger volumes, and the expectation is they will continue to tick higher into 2027. The big question is whether those foreign tons will arrive in volumes sufficient to provide the relief steel consumers want.