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    September 20, 2022

    SMU Price Ranges: Sheet Eases Lower, Plate Falls Hard

    Written by Brett Linton

    Sheet prices drifted sideways to down this week, while plate prices fell substantually following the Nucor price decrease announcement on Monday.

    SMU’s hot-rolled index eased an average of $15 per net ton this week to $770 per ton. This is now tied with our late August price for the lowest HRC price seen since November 2020. Cold-rolled prices declined $10 per ton on average, while coated products fell more significantly week-over-week, as much as $25 per ton. Market participants attribute declining prices to short lead times, weakening demand, and healthy inventories—commenting they see little pressure to buy at this time.

    Brett Linton

    Brett Linton is a digital operations analyst for Steel Market Update, where he began his career. Linton has been in the steel industry since 2010. He has held roles as a category manager and strategic insights director at Reibus before returning to SMU in 2024. He is a graduate of The University of North Georgia with a degree in Finance and Accounting. Brett can be reached at brett@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-314-0179.

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