Steel Prices

SMU price ranges: Sheet ticks higher for second week, plate moves lower

August 6, 2024

SMU’s sheet prices rose by an average of $10 per short ton (st) this week on most products, the second consecutive week of recovering prices. Aside from the marginal uptick seen last week, this is the first broad instance of increasing sheet prices since the first week of April.

Our hot-rolled index ticked $15/st higher to a five-week high of $655/st. Cold rolled and galvanized (base) prices also increased week over week (w/w), now standing at three-week highs of $905/st and $890/st, respectively. Base Galvalume prices held steady for the second consecutive week at $900/st.

Plate prices drifted lower this week following two weeks of stability, now standing at $1,005/st. This downward trend has been occurring for the past eight months.

SMU’s sheet price momentum indicator has been shifted from neutral to higher. Our plate price momentum indicator remains at lower.

Hot-rolled coil

The SMU price range is $610-700/st, averaging $655/st FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range is up $10/st w/w, while the top end is up $20/st. Our overall average is up $15/st w/w. Our price momentum indicator for HR has been adjusted to higher, meaning we expect prices to increase over the next 30 days.

Hot rolled lead times range from 3-6 weeks, averaging 4.5 weeks as of our July 31 market survey.

Cold-rolled coil

The SMU price range is $860–950/st, averaging $905/st FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range is unchanged w/w, while the top end is up $10/st. Our overall average is up $5/st w/w. Our price momentum indicator for CR has been adjusted to higher, meaning we expect prices to increase over the next 30 days.

Cold rolled lead times range from 5-8 weeks, averaging 6.7 weeks through our latest survey.

Galvanized coil

The SMU price range is $850–930/st, averaging $890/st FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range is up $10/st w/w, while the top end is up $30/st. Our overall average is up $20/st w/w. Our price momentum indicator for galvanized has been adjusted to higher, meaning we expect prices to increase over the next 30 days.

Galvanized .060” G90 benchmark: SMU price range is $947–1,027/st, averaging $987/st FOB mill, east of the Rockies.

Galvanized lead times range from 6-8 weeks, averaging 7.0 weeks through our latest survey.

Galvalume coil

The SMU price range is $850–950/st, averaging $900/st FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range is up $10/st w/w, while the top end is down $10/st. Our overall average is unchanged w/w. Our price momentum indicator for Galvalume has been adjusted to higher, meaning we expect prices to increase over the next 30 days.

Galvalume .0142” AZ50, grade 80 benchmark: SMU price range is $1,144–1,244/st, averaging $1,194/st FOB mill, east of the Rockies.

Galvalume lead times range from 6-8 weeks, averaging 7.0 weeks through our latest survey.

Plate

The SMU price range is $950–1,060/st, averaging $1,005/st FOB mill. The lower end of our range is down $10/st w/w, while the top end is down $20/st. Our overall average is down $15/st w/w. Our price momentum indicator for plate remains at lower, meaning we expect prices to decline over the next 30 days.

Plate lead times range from 2-6 weeks, averaging 3.9 weeks through our latest survey.

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.

Brett Linton

Brett Linton is a senior 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.