Prices
Empire State Manufacturing Index Soars in April
April 17, 2023
Manufacturing business activity increased for the first time in New York state in five months, according to the latest Empire State Manufacturing Survey taken between April 3-10.
The New York Fed’s Empire state headline general business conditions index jumped 35 points month-over-month to 10.8, as new orders and shipments rose as well.
The survey’s new orders index increased significantly, up 47 points to 25.1 in April from March, while shipments climbed 37 points to 23.9 in the same comparison.
Despite the reported improvement in current business activity, survey respondents remain more muted about future conditions up to six months ahead. The index for future business conditions ticked up 3.7 points to 6.6, which suggests that “firms do not expect activity to improve much over the next six months,” according to the survey.

An interactive history of the Empire State Manufacturing Index is available on our website. If you need assistance logging into or navigating the website, please contact us at info@steelmarketupdate.com.
By Ethan Bernard, ethan@steelmarketupdate.com
Latest in Prices
SMU Survey: Mills less negotiable on spot prices
Most steel buyers responding to our market survey this week reported that domestic mills are considerably less willing to talk price on sheet and plate products than they were in recent weeks.
Price gap between US HRC, most imports narrows slightly
In dollar-per-ton terms, US product is on average $141/st less than landed import prices (inclusive of the 50% tariff). That’s down from $148/st last week.
SMU price ranges: Sheet ticks higher, plate stable
Sheet steel indices increased across the board this week, while plate prices held steady. All five of SMU’s price indices are higher than they were two weeks ago, and all but one are above levels recorded four weeks ago.
Nucor lifts HR spot price by $10/ton
Nucor has raised its weekly spot list price on hot-rolled coil by $10 per short ton (st) after keeping it unchanged since Aug. 25.
Atlas Tube up $50/ton following NLMK USA sheet price hike
Atlas Tube, in a leading move, said it aims to increase prices for mechanical tubing, hollow structural sections (HSS), and piling products by at least $50 per short ton (st).
