Steel Prices

Nucor maintains plate prices, opens August order book
Written by David Schollaert
June 30, 2025
Nucor aims to keep plate prices flat again with the opening of its August order book.
In a letter to customers on Monday, the Charlotte, N.C.-based steelmaker said it would maintain last month’s price, effective with new orders received on Monday, June 30.
The company said pricing applied equally to carbon, normalized, and quenched-and-tempered products.
Nucor said its base price for normalized and quenched-and-tempered plate is $1,475 and $2,645 per short ton (st), respectively.
“We reserve the right to review and re-quote any offers that are not confirmed with either a Nucor sales acknowledgment or written acceptance by both parties,” the company said in the letter.
Nucor has held plate prices unchanged for the past three months after kickstarting the year with four consecutive increases from January to March, totaling $300/st, according to SMU’s mill price announcement calendar.
SMU’s plate price stands at $1,150/st on average as of June 24. Plate prices have been steadily edging higher and are now up $30/st from a recent low of $1,120/st in late May, according to SMU’s interactive pricing tool, which you can find here.

David Schollaert
Read more from David SchollaertLatest in Steel Prices

Spread between US HRC and imports holds
Domestic hot-rolled (HR) coil prices were flat this week, while offshore prices varied week over week (w/w). The price margin between stateside and foreign product was little changed as a result.

Steelmaking raw material prices hold steady
Most steelmaking raw material prices we track saw little change across the month of August. Iron ore, pig iron, shredded scrap, busheling scrap, zinc, and aluminum prices all held relatively steady,

SMU Price Ranges: Sheet and plate hold steady
Steel prices remained largely unchanged this week, staying at or near lows last seen in February. All five sheet and plate products tracked by SMU moved by no more than $5 per short ton (st) from the previous week.

SMU Survey: Mills remain flexible on pricing, buyers say
The majority of steel buyers responding to our market survey this week continue to say that mills are negotiable on new spot order prices. Negotiation rates have remained high since May.

Spread between US HRC and imports widens on S232
HRC prices in the US eroded further last week, while offshore prices varied week over week (w/w), widening the price margin between stateside and foreign product.