• Skip to main content

    Market Segment

    November 30, 2023

    US HRC remains $200/ton more expensive than offshore product

    Written by David Schollaert

    US Hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices continue to move higher following repeated mill increases. The trend has caused domestic tags to become far more expensive than imported offshore hot band.

    Domestic HRC tags have increased for the ninth consecutive week. While imports have been on a four-week rally, the gains have been only marginal over the same period when compared to US prices, according to SMU’s latest foreign vs. domestic price analysis.

    David Schollaert

    David Schollaert is deputy editor-in-chief for Steel Market Update. David joined SMU after more than a decade in the metals and mining industry in a myriad of different roles. Much of his early experience and expertise were within the coverage and analysis of steel-making raw materials and served previously as senior editor of the CRU Prices Service. Most recently, however, before his return to market analysis, David held roles as a metals buyer and an operations manager for raw material suppliers. He can be contacted at david@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-720-1008.

    Read more from David Schollaert

    Latest in Market Segment

    Nucor, Gerdau up MBQ prices again

    Nucor and Gerdau have announced price increases for merchant bar quality (MBQ) products. The Nucor Bar Mill Group informed customers on Oct. 8 that it was raising prices on all MBQ products by $30 per short ton (st). The move is effective for new orders received after the close of business on Oct. 8. “All confirmed orders as of the close of business on October 8th, 2026 will be price-protected if shipped by end of business day, October 22th, 2026,” Nucor noted in a letter to customers.

    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.

    US shipments of heating and cooling equipment slow further in August

    Total shipments of heating and cooling equipment cooled further in August, according to the latest figures from the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). After falling 11% month on month (m/m) in July, shipments slipped another 10% in August. The monthly pace marks the third-slowest shipment rate year-to-date. Shipments of water heaters, air conditioners, and heat pumps declined m/m, while warm-air furnace shipments picked up. Compared with a year earlier, only air conditioners and heat pumps increased.