Plate
July 30, 2022
Written by David Schollaert
US plate prices were largely unchanged this week, but probably not for long now that Nucor has significantly lowered plate prices with the opening of its September plate order book.
The move came after Nucor in early July kept prices flat with the opening of its August order book.
Steel imports into the US crept higher in August and continued climbing in September, according to the Department of Commerce's latest import license data. August imports rose 3.4% from July to a 15-month high. September license data collected through Oct. 5 shows another 6.2% month-on-month increase. Imports continue to recover from some of the lowest levels since 2020, seen late last year through February this year.
Earlier this week, SMU polled steel buyers on topics ranging from market prices, demand, and inventories to tariffs, imports, and evolving market events. Below, we share a selection of the comments we received, in each buyer’s own words.
SMU’s latest Flat-Rolled Steel Survey points to largely stable demand, but foreign steel orders have softened since the previous survey, and service centers continue to report stronger activity than manufacturers.
SSAB Americas aims to increase base plate prices by at least $60 per short ton (st), according to a letter sent to customers on Monday.
The Department of Commerce thinks revoking the anti-dumping duty (AD) orders on cut-to-length carbon steel plate from China and Russia would lead to the recurrence of dumping at significant margins.