Steel Products Prices North America
SMU Price Ranges & Indices: Was That the Peak?
Written by Brett Linton
September 14, 2021
Sheet prices continue to wobble with hot-rolled coiled prices actually declining, albeit modestly, for the first time in more than a year. The concern: that the market is at a peak – and perhaps heading down the other side.
Hot rolled coil prices have been flat in prior weeks, but they have not declined since Aug.11 of last year – when they dropped to a post-pandemic low of $440 per ton ($22 per cwt). Cold-rolled and galvanized prices are unchanged this week.
Galvalume prices declined by $35 per ton on continued concern about import competition. “Everyone has imports on their way or already at the port,” one market participant said. Plate prices, meanwhile, were also down $30 per ton.
With import offers as much as $500 per ton below domestic prices, it’s worth considering how long the U.S. can remain an island of high prices. With market prices apparently now in transition, SMU has switched its Price Momentum Indicators on all products from Higher to Neutral until the market’s direction becomes more certain.
Hot Rolled Coil: SMU price range is $1,900-$2,000 per net ton ($95.00-$100.00/cwt) with an average of $1,950 per ton ($97.50/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range decreased $10 per ton compared to last week, while the upper end remained unchanged. Our overall average is down $5 per ton from one week ago. Our price momentum on hot rolled steel will remain Neutral until the market establishes a clear direction.
Hot Rolled Lead Times: 7-12 weeks
Cold Rolled Coil: SMU price range is $2,100-$2,200 per net ton ($105.00-$110.00/cwt) with an average of $2,150 per ton ($107.50/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. Both the lower and upper ends of our range remained unchanged compared to one week ago. Our overall average is unchanged from last week. Our price momentum on cold rolled steel will remain Neutral until the market establishes a clear direction.
Cold Rolled Lead Times: 9-13 weeks
Galvanized Coil: SMU price range is $2,100-$2,200 per net ton ($105.00-$110.00/cwt) with an average of $2,150 per ton ($107.50/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. Both the lower and upper ends of our range remained unchanged compared to last week. Our overall average is unchanged from one week ago. Our price momentum on galvanized steel will remain Neutral until the market establishes a clear direction.
Galvanized .060” G90 Benchmark: SMU price range is $2,178-$2,278 per ton with an average of $2,228 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvanized Lead Times: 10-14 weeks
Galvalume Coil: SMU price range is $1,960-$2,200 per net ton ($98.00-$110.00/cwt) with an average of $2,080 per ton ($104.00/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range decreased $80 per ton compared to one week ago, while the upper end increased by $10. Our overall average is down $35 per ton from last week. Our price momentum on Galvalume steel will remain Neutral until the market establishes a clear direction.
Galvalume .0142” AZ50, Grade 80 Benchmark: SMU price range is $2,251-$2,491 per ton with an average of $2,371 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvalume Lead Times: 8-15 weeks
Plate: SMU price range is $1,650-$1,840 per net ton ($82.50-$92.00/cwt) with an average of $1,745 per ton ($87.25/cwt) FOB mill. The lower end of our range remained unchanged compared to last week, while the upper end decreased by $60 per ton. Our overall average is down $30 per ton from one week ago. Our price momentum on plate steel will remain Neutral until the market establishes a clear direction.
Plate Lead Times: 8-10 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. If you need help navigating the website or need to know your login information, contact us at info@SteelMarketUpdate.com.
Brett Linton
Read more from Brett LintonLatest in Steel Products Prices North America
Nucor drops weekly HR coil price by $10/ton
Nucor lowered its weekly base spot price for hot-rolled (HR) coil by $10 per short ton (st) this week.
Nucor holds HR price steady this week
Nucor is holding its hot-rolled (HR) coil consumer spot price (CSP) flat this week.
SMU price ranges: Sheet, plate largely unchanged
Sheet prices varied this week. While hot-rolled (HR) coil pricing was largely flat, cold-rolled (CR) coil and tandem product pricing eased slightly reflecting the momentum shift seen last week for HR coil. SMU’s average HR coil price was flat from last week at $835 per short ton (st) – potentially emphasizing the tension between competing […]
Nucor posts $830/ton spot HR price for week of April 8
Nucor said its spot hot-rolled (HR) coil price this week will be $830 per short ton (st).
US HR prices rebound, no longer near parity with imports
US hot-rolled coil and offshore hot band moved further away from parity this week as stateside prices have begun to move higher in response to mill increases.