Market Data
May 12, 2026
SMU Price Ranges: Sheet and plate markets continue to tick higher
Written by Brett Linton
All five of SMU’s sheet and plate price indices ticked higher this week, rising further to new multi-year highs. Prices increased between $5-25 per short ton (st) from last week and are $30-65/st higher than they were one month ago.
Our hot-rolled sheet index inched up $5/st week over week (w/w) to $1,080/st, the highest recorded in over three years. Meanwhile, cold rolled jumped $25/st w/w to $1,255, the highest it has been since January 2024.
Coated prices rose to levels last seen in February 2024. Our galvanized and Galvalume indices both ticked up $10/st w/w to $1,230/st.
Our plate index rose $20/st w/w to $1,245/st, the highest it has been in over a year.
SMU’s price momentum indicator remains pointing 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: $1,060–1,100/st, averaging $1,080/st
The lower end of our range is up $10/st w/w, while the top end is unchanged. Our overall average is up $5/st w/w.
Hot-rolled lead times range from 5–10 weeks, averaging 6.7 weeks as of our April 30 market survey. We will publish updated lead times on Thursday.
Cold-rolled coil: $1,230–1,280/st, averaging $1,255/st
The lower end of our range is up $30/st w/w, while the top end is up $20/st. Our overall average is up $25/st w/w.
Cold-rolled lead times range from 6–10 weeks, averaging 8.0 weeks through our latest survey.
Galvanized coil: $1,200–1,260/st, averaging $1,230/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 $1,290–1,350/st, averaging $1,320/st FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvanized lead times range from 6–10 weeks, averaging 8.0 weeks through our latest survey.
Galvalume coil: $1,200–1,260/st, averaging $1,230/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 $1,629–1,689/st, averaging $1,659/st FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvalume lead times range from 7–10 weeks, averaging 8.4 weeks through our latest survey.
Plate: $1,210–1,280/st, averaging $1,245/st
Our entire range is up $20/st w/w.
Plate lead times range from 6–8 weeks, averaging 7.1 weeks through our latest survey.
