Steel Prices
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/Mixed.png)
SMU Price Ranges: HR unchanged, peak or pause?
Written by David Schollaert & Michael Cowden
January 9, 2024
Hot-rolled (HR) coil prices remain in the holding pattern they’ve been in since mid-December, according to SMU pricing archives.
SMU’s HR price stands at $1,045 per ton on average, unchanged from a week ago.
Flat HR prices might result in part from a still unsettled January scrap market, some sources said. That uncertainty could make it difficult for mills to enforce (or even to follow) a price hike announced by Cleveland-Cliffs last week, they said.
Recall that price increase was aimed at lifting spot HR prices to at least $1,150 per ton.
But it was a different story on the cold-rolled and coated side. SMU’s cold-rolled (CR) coil price stands at $1,325 per ton on average, up $40 per ton from last week. Following a similar trend, galvanized was at $1,330 per ton (up $45 per ton) and Galvalume at $1,345 (up $30 per ton).
It was not immediately clear why CR and coated prices would continue to move upward even as HR appears to have plateaued. The divergent trends have at least temporarily created an unusually wide spread between prices HR and those for tandem products.
Some sources said unexpected issues at certain mills might be to blame. Others said they weren’t aware of any production problems. They said supplies of tandem products were simply tighter than those for HR.
SMU’s plate price, meanwhile, was unchanged at $1,405 per on average.
With price trends mixed, our sheet and plate momentum indicators remain at neutral. They will remain so until a clear market direction emerges.
Hot-rolled coil
The SMU price range is $990–1,100 per net ton, with an average of $1,045 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The bottom end and the top end of our range were unchanged vs. one week ago. Our overall average is, as a result, sideways week on week (WoW). Our price momentum indicator for HRC remains neutral, meaning SMU is unsure of the direction prices will move over the next 30 days.
Hot rolled lead times: 6–8 weeks
Cold-rolled coil
The SMU price range is $1,300–1,350 per net ton, with an average of $1,325 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range was up $60 per ton vs. the prior week, while the top end of our range was up $20 per ton. Our overall average is up $40 per ton vs. the week prior. Our price momentum indicator for CRC remains neutral, meaning SMU is unsure of the direction prices will move over the next 30 days.
Cold rolled lead times: 6–12 weeks
Galvanized coil
The SMU price range is $1,300-1,360 per ton, with an average of $1,330 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range was up $60 per ton vs. the prior week, while the top end of our range was $30 per ton higher WoW. Our overall average is up $45 per ton vs. the week prior. Our price momentum indicator for galvanized remains neutral, meaning SMU is unsure of the direction prices will move over the next 30 days.
Galvanized .060” G90 benchmark: SMU price range is $1,397–1,457 per ton with an average of $1,427 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvanized lead times: 6-11 weeks
Galvalume coil
The SMU price range is $1,300–1,390 per net ton, with an average of $1,345 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range was up $20 per ton vs. the prior week, while the top end of our range was also up $40 per ton. Thus our overall average is up $30 per ton vs. the week prior. Our price momentum indicator for Galvalume remains at neutral, meaning SMU is unsure of the direction prices will move over the next 30 days.
Galvalume .0142” AZ50, grade 80 benchmark: SMU price range is $1,594–1,684 per ton with an average of $1,639 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvalume lead times: 6-15 weeks
Plate
The SMU price range is $1,380–1,430 per net ton, with an average of $1,405 per ton FOB mill. The lower end of our range was up $10 per ton WoW, while the top end of our range was $10 per ton lower vs. the prior week. Our overall average is unchanged vs. one week ago. Our price momentum indicator for plate remains neutral, meaning SMU is unsure of the direction prices will move over the next 30 days.
Plate lead times: 4-7 weeks
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/SMU_WklyPrices_010924_Fig1-1024x633.png)
SMU note: Above is a graphic showing our hot rolled, cold rolled, galvanized, Galvalume, and plate price history. This data is also available here on our website with our interactive pricing tool. If you need help navigating the website or need to know your login information, contact us at info@steelmarketupdate.com.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/SMU_DS_headshot.png-150x150.jpg)
David Schollaert
Read more from David Schollaert![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/SMU_MC_headshot-150x150.png)
Michael Cowden
Read more from Michael CowdenLatest in Steel Prices
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/Cliffs_logo2.2.png)
BREAKING NEWS: Cliffs seeks $670/ton for Sept HR
Cleveland-Cliffs announced on Friday that it would seek $670 per short ton (st) for hot-rolled (HR) coil. The steelmaker said the move was effectively immediately. It coincides with the opening of the company’s HR order book for September.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/HRC-Futures.png)
HR futures: Shifting risk profiles, emerging opportunities
Summer is here, and a familiar sentiment has hit the hot-rolled coil (HRC) futures market. Prices continue to decline in both the spot market and the futures market, with expectations of sub-$800 prices for the remainder of the year.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/HARDI.png)
HARDI members see galvanized tags falling as bottom nears
Galvanized prices have fallen precipitously from a month ago, though many market participants think a bottom is in sight.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/Nucor.png)
Nucor aims to hold HR prices steady this week at $650/ton
Nucor kept its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled (HR) coil unchanged at $650 per short ton (st) this week. HR prices for CSI, the company's sheet subsidiary in California, held steady at $720/st. Note that sheet prices on the West Coast are typically higher than those east of the Rocky Mountains.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/SMU_CR_ForeignVs.Domestic_2024-0719_Thumbnail.png)
Imported CR still cheaper despite lower US prices
The price gap between US cold-rolled (CR) coil and imported CR has fallen to a 10-month low as domestic tags continue to drift lower. Domestic CR coil prices averaged $920 per short ton (st) in our check of the market on Tuesday, July 16, down $40/st from the week before. CR tags are now down […]