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    Analysis

    September 1, 2026

    SMU Price Ranges: Sheet prices tick (mostly) upward for yet another week

    Written by Brett Linton & Michael Cowden

    Flat-rolled steel prices inched higher again this week, continuing a trend that has characterized the market for most of this year.

    SMU’s hot-rolled (HR) coil price now stands at $1,205 per short ton (st), up $5/st from last week. Galvanized and Galvalume base prices clocked in at $1,440/st, up $10/st from a week ago.

    Brett Linton

    Brett Linton is a digital operations 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.

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    Michael Cowden

    Michael Cowden is editor-in-chief for Steel Market Update. Cowden has covered the steel industry since 2007. He specializes in flat-rolled steel but has also reported on steel long products, steel pipe and tube, and aluminum. Before joining SMU, Cowden held reporting jobs at Fastmarkets AMM in Chicago, the Associated Press in Pittsburgh, and the Cambodia Daily in Phnom Penh. He has also worked as a copy editor and in marketing at the University of Chicago Press. Cowden has a BA in English from the University of Chicago and an MSJ journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Contact him at michael@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7872.

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