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    Scrap Prices Decline $75-100/Ton in May

    Written by Brett Linton


    Steel Market Update sources report ferrous scrap prices fell $75-100 per gross ton in May, following record high prices in March and April due to the war in Ukraine. Heavy melt (HMS) was down nearly $100 per gross ton, whereas shredded and busheling prices were down $75 per gross ton.

    steel scrap“Demand is okay, but there’s just too much supply floating around, and consumers have plenty of inventory. We expect prices will come down further next month,” said one source.

    Brett Linton

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    Mills seek more scrap after lower prices fail to attract tons

    Several mills that bought October scrap early last week are still asking for additional supplies, scrap market participants said. The reason: the mills' initial prices did not attract enough of the raw material, they said. A trading source based in northern Ohio said three mills have contacted his firm seeking offers for additional tons. He said the mills asked for offers even if prices were higher than their original buys last week.

    Nucor increases spot HR to $1,240/ton

    Nucor said on Monday, Oct. 12, that its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled (HR) coil will be $1,240 per short ton (st) this week, a $10/st increase from a week earlier. The CSP for HR coil from California Steel Industries (CSI) on the West Coast will be $1,305/st, up $15/st from the prior week. Nucor is still offering lead times of three to five weeks, according to the letter to customers. You can track mill price announcements on our website. Steel Market Update (SMU) published a weekly price assessment on Tuesday, Oct. 6, showing HR coil prices averaging $1,270/st, up $10/st from the previous week. We will update our prices on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 13.