Steel Products Prices North America
SMU Price Ranges & Indices: Mixed Numbers This Week
Written by Brett Linton
May 20, 2020
Flat rolled steel prices were mixed this week as benchmark hot rolled rose $10 per ton and is now up $20 per ton from the cycle low. Cold rolled remained within the range we reported last week and our average on CR is unchanged. Galvanized pricing data was mixed with a couple of mills cutting lower deals this week than last. Our GI average is down $15 per ton, and there are definite questions regarding the strength of GI at the top end of our range. Galvalume is seen as firm and unchanged from one week ago.
The domestic steel mills began raising plate prices by $40 per ton earlier today. We are seeing plate prices as unchanged from last week, and our price momentum indicator on plate is Neutral
Here is how we see prices this week:
Hot Rolled Coil: SMU price range is $460-$500 per ton ($23.00-$25.00/cwt) with an average of $480 per ton ($24.00/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range increased $20 per ton compared to one week ago, while the upper end remained the same. Our overall average is up $10 per ton over last week. Our price momentum on hot rolled steel is Neutral until the market establishes a clear direction.
Hot Rolled Lead Times: 3-4 weeks
Cold Rolled Coil: SMU price range is $650-$700 per ton ($32.50-$35.00/cwt) with an average of $675 per ton ($33.75/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. Both the lower and upper ends of our range remained the same over last week. Our overall average is unchanged compared to one week ago. Our price momentum on cold rolled steel is at Neutral until the market establishes a clear direction.
Cold Rolled Lead Times: 4-6 weeks
Galvanized Coil: SMU price range is $620-$700 per ton ($31.00-$35.00/cwt) with an average of $660 per ton ($33.00/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range declined $20 per ton compared to one week ago, while the upper end fell $10 per ton. Our overall average is down $15 per ton over last week. Our price momentum on galvanized steel is at Neutral until the market establishes a clear direction.
Galvanized .060” G90 Benchmark: SMU price range is $689-$769 per net ton with an average of $729 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvanized Lead Times: 3-7 weeks
Galvalume Coil: SMU price range is $660-$710 per ton ($33.00-$35.50/cwt) with an average of $685 per ton ($34.25/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. Both the lower and upper ends of our range remained the same over last week. Our overall average is unchanged compared to one week ago. Our price momentum on Galvalume steel is at Neutral until the market establishes a clear direction.
Galvalume .0142” AZ50, Grade 80 Benchmark: SMU price range is $951-$1,001 per net ton with an average of $976 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvalume Lead Times: 3-7 weeks
Plate: SMU price range is $570-$610 per ton ($28.50-$30.50/cwt) with an average of $590 per ton ($29.50/cwt) FOB delivered to the customer’s facility. Both the lower and upper ends of our range remained the same over one week ago. Our overall average is unchanged compared to last week. Our price momentum on plate steel is at Neutral until the market establishes a clear direction.
Plate Lead Times: 3-5 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
CRU: Longs pricing trends diverge in North, South America
Most longs prices in the US were unchanged this month, except for rebar, which declined by $1.50/cwt ($30/short ton) m/m. While end-use demand is stable, inventories are well-stocked, keeping purchases limited. Domestic availability is sufficient to meet current demand, hindering the appetite for imported material. Meanwhile, prices for scrap remained under pressure in June, with […]
Nucor cuts plate prices by $125/ton, cites ongoing competition
Nucor Corp. announced that its plate mill group would cut prices for as-rolled, discrete, and normalized plate with the opening of its August order book.
Nucor cuts HR price for fourth straight week
Nucor lowered its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled (HR) coil by another $10 per short ton (st) for the first week of July. The steelmaker said in a letter to customers on Monday that its CSP base price for the week will be $670/st for all of its sheet mills with the exception of California Steel Industries (CSI).
Cliffs sets $720/ton HR price with opening of August books
Cleveland-Cliffs on Tuesday announced its monthly hot-rolled (HR) coil price of $720 per short ton (st) with the official opening of its August order book. The rate is down from last month’s price of $800/st.
CRU: Demand weakness continues to weigh on global sheet markets
Demand has remained persistently weak across the globe for sheet steel, weighing on prices. US HR coil prices fell the furthest this week as high-volume, low-priced deals were transacted as mills looked to fill order books and competed with one another amid relative demand weakness. Meanwhile, European prices were also down due to low demand […]