US HRC now nearly $300/ton more expensive than imports

US hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices continued their upward movement this week, distinctly outpacing increases for offshore product once again. Domestic tags are now 27% more expensive than imports – the widest pricing gap in nearly two years.

Domestic HRC tags, now on an 11-week run, have increased repeatedly since Sept. 27. Comparatively, imports have been on just a six-week rally, and the gains have been a fraction of the increases seen in the US, 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.