Market Data
April 21, 2026
SMU Price Ranges: Sheet and plate move higher
Written by Brett Linton
Each of SMU’s sheet and plate price indices climbed higher this week, with most products rising further to new multi-year highs. Sheet prices increased between $10-20 per short ton (st) from last week, while plate inched up $5/st. Prices are $35-40/st higher than they were one month ago.
Buyers report that the market continues to move higher with no signs of softening anytime soon. Drivers include better-than-expected demand, extended mill lead times coupled with late deliveries, and expectations for future outages. Imports remain low, while higher fuel and freight costs add additional pressure to prices.
Our hot-rolled index is now up to $1,060 per short ton (st), a high not seen since May 2023. Cold rolled is up to $1,170, the highest it has been since February 2024.
Coated prices are at the highest levels recorded in over two years; galvanized rose to $1,190/st; and Galvalume increased to $1,200/st, levels last seen in February 2024.
Our plate index inched up to $1,190/st this week, the highest it has been in over a year.
SMU’s price momentum indicator remains at higher for both sheet and plate products, signaling that we expect prices to increase further in the short term.
Refer to Table 1 (click to enlarge) for our latest price indices and trends.
Hot-rolled coil: $1,040–1,080/st, averaging $1,060/st
The lower end of our range is up $5/st week over week (w/w), while the top end is up $15/st. Our overall average is up $10/st w/w.
Hot-rolled lead times range from 4–10 weeks, averaging 6.6 weeks as of our April 16 market survey.
Cold-rolled coil: $1,190–1,230/st, averaging $1,210/st
The lower end of our range is up $30/st w/w, while the top end is up $10/st. Our overall average is up $20/st w/w.
Cold-rolled lead times range from 6–10 weeks, averaging 7.9 weeks through our latest survey.
Galvanized coil: $1,160–1,220/st, averaging $1,190/st
The lower end of our range is up $20/st w/w, while the top end is unchanged. Our overall average is up $10/st w/w.
Galvanized .060×48” G90 benchmark: SMU price range is $1,250–1,310/st, averaging $1,280/st FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvanized lead times range from 6–11 weeks, averaging 8.1 weeks through our latest survey.
Galvalume coil: $1,180–1,220/st, averaging $1,200/st
The lower end of our range is up $20/st w/w, while the top end is unchanged. Our overall average is up $10/st w/w.
Galvalume .0142×42” AZ50, grade 80 benchmark: SMU price range is $1,609–1,649/st, averaging $1,629/st FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvalume lead times range from 7–10 weeks, averaging 8.3 weeks through our latest survey.
Plate: $1,160–1,220/st, averaging $1,190/st
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.
Plate lead times range from 6–9 weeks, averaging 7.4 weeks through our latest survey.
