Market Data
August 25, 2026
SMU Price Ranges: Steel prices tick higher, brushing off US-Canada trade tensions
Written by Brett Linton
Sheet prices mostly ticked upward again this week on a series of factors long familiar to the market: long lead times, limited spot availability, and solid demand.
There had been speculation late last week that a deal with Canada might result in lower Section 232 tariffs and, potentially, a moderation in prices.
But the deal collapsed late on Friday and tariffs remain firmly in place. Meanwhile, retaliatory tariffs announced by Canada on Tuesday indicated no near-term prospect of a steel deal.
Sheet and plate prices took it all in stride. SMU’s price assessment for hot-rolled coil increased to $1,200 per short ton (st) on average, up $5/st from last week. Our assessment for cold-rolled coil now stands at $1,440/st, up $10/st from a week ago. And galvanized base prices clocked in at $1,430/st, up $5/st from last week.
Our Galvalume and plate prices were unchanged week over week at $1,430/st and $1,395/st, respectively.
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: $1,180–1,220/st, averaging $1,200/st
The lower end of our range is up $10/st week over week (w/w), while the top end is unchanged. Our overall average is up $5/st w/w.
Hot-rolled lead times range from 5–12 weeks, averaging 7.6 weeks as of our Aug. 19 market survey.
Cold-rolled coil: $1,420–1,460/st, averaging $1,440/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.
Cold-rolled lead times range from 7–12 weeks, averaging 8.7 weeks through our latest survey.
Galvanized coil: $1,400–1,460/st, averaging $1,430/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.
Galvanized .060×48” G90 benchmark: SMU price range is $1,499–1,559/st, averaging $1,529/st FOB mill, east of the Rockies. Note that this spec includes $99/st in mill extras, and extras may vary by mill.
Galvanized lead times range from 6–12 weeks, averaging 8.9 weeks through our latest survey.
Galvalume coil: $1,400–1,460/st, averaging $1,430/st
Our entire range is unchanged w/w.
Galvalume .0142×42” AZ50, grade 80 benchmark: SMU price range is $2,000–2,060/st, averaging $2,030/st FOB mill, east of the Rockies. Note that this spec includes $600/st in mill extras, and extras may vary by mill.
Galvalume lead times range from 6–12 weeks, averaging 8.9 weeks through our latest survey.
Plate: $1,360–1,430/st, averaging $1,395/st
Our entire range is unchanged w/w.
Plate lead times range from 7–12 weeks, averaging 9.1 weeks through our latest survey.
