Category: Steel Prices

Three prominent steel analysts proposed their outlooks for next year in the Steel Price Forecast: Boom or Bust in 2024? panel at Steel Summit 2023 in Atlanta.

Over the first three months since Flack started contributing a futures column to SMU, the first sentence has started with some version of “What a month!”

Domestic and imported hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices are nearly parallel as US tags continue to erode at a faster clip than offshore prices, according to SMU’s latest foreign vs. domestic price analysis.

Sheet prices were mixed this week after trending lower for most of July and earlier in August. SMU’s average hold-rolled coil (HRC) price slipped to $750 per ton.

The spread US hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices had held over offshore product for much of the year has almost evaporated, according to SMU’s latest foreign vs. domestic price analysis.

Sheet prices slipped again, continuing a trend of lower week-over-week tags that began in mid-July.

The US scrap market showed some stability in August, with prices mostly sideways on busheling and shredded grades, and HMS prices ticking up from the previous month, sources said.

The spread between US and offshore hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices continues to narrow as domestic tags have declined further, according to SMU’s latest foreign vs. domestic price analysis.

Sheet prices were mixed this week with hot-rolled coil (HRC) and galvanized base prices slipping again even as cold-rolled tags inched up.

The summer cycle has brought more focus around the uncertainty of where HR prices are headed.   Spot indexes continue to bleed lower despite price hikes from sheet mills. Market talk is of still lower prices as the gap grows between the slow-moving index versus expectations for HR future prices declines. (The index likely reflects smaller, […]

The spread between US and offshore hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices has narrowed to its lowest level since mid-February, when domestic prices were still trending upwards, according to SMU’s latest foreign vs. domestic price analysis.

Sheet prices slipped for the third consecutive week on continued discounts from certain mills for larger buyers.

August could see US scrap prices stabilizing, or even rising, depending on the grade or region, scrap sources told SMU.

US raw steel production inched up for a third consecutive week, according to data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) on Monday, July 31. Steel production in the US increased to 1,749,000 net tons for the week ended July 29, up 0.5% from 1,741,000 net tons the previous week. US production is 1.6% higher […]

The LME aluminum three-month price is moving higher again, closing the week on the morning of July 28 at $2,215 per tonne. The previous day, the price dropped sharply at the close and briefly moved below $2,200/t. The next day the price was seen increasing again, suggesting support at $2,200/t has once again been regained.  […]

Mexican steelmaker Ternium could benefit if the US places new steel tariffs on Mexico, according to New York-based investment firm Morgan Stanley. “First, if the US were to levy tariffs on steel imports from Mexico, we believe the government of Mexico would likely respond with a similar measure. Second, due to its product mix, Ternium would likely benefit […]

A preliminary count of imports during the month of June shows little changes from SMU’s previously reported import license analysis. Total imports were 2,792,674 net tons in June’s preliminary count by the US Department of Commerce. As SMU reported earlier this month, that’s the highest level imports have been over the past year. Flat-rolled imports […]

The US HRC Futures market has been on a roller-coaster ride since our last update (green). In early July, the front month futures contracts surged significantly as news of Steel Dynamics Inc.’s (SDI’s) Sinton, Texas, mill outage trickled through the market (blue).

The US HRC Futures market has been on a roller coaster ride since our last update (green). In early July, the front month futures contracts surged significantly as news of Steel Dynamics Inc.’s (SDI’s) Sinton, Texas, mill outage trickled through the market (blue). However, the futures quickly reversed course and experienced a sharp decline, following […]

Schnitzer Steel Industries has changed its corporate name to Radius Recycling. The Portland, Ore.-based scrap recycler and long steel producer said on Wednesday it’s part of a rebranding initiative to reflect the company’s “vision, purpose, and impact on the global economy.” “While metals recycling and steel manufacturing have been the foundation of our global business for […]

Hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices fell for a second consecutive week as mills appear to have given up holding the line on $900 per ton ($45 per cwt) and amid discounting into the high $700s per ton.

Hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices fell for a second consecutive week as mills appear to have given up holding the line on $900 per ton ($45 per cwt) and amid discounting into the high $700s per ton. SMU’s average HRC price now stands at $830 per ton, down $40 per ton from a week ago and marking […]

US raw steel production rose a second consecutive week, according to data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) on Monday, July 24. Steel production in the US rose to 1,741,000 net tons for the week ended July 22, up 1.5% from 1,716,000 the previous week. Domestic production is also up 1.2% year-over-year from 1,721,000 net […]

Over the last month, the iron ore price has shown more weakness as fewer participants in the market maintain a positive outlook based on more stimulus measures in China. Simultaneously, on the supply side, Australia followed seasonal trends with a marginal y/y increase. Recovered Brazilian volumes have also begun to weigh on the market. Supply […]

Over the last month, the iron ore price has shown more weakness as fewer participants in the market maintain a positive outlook based on more stimulus measures in China. Simultaneously, on the supply side, Australia followed seasonal trends with a marginal y/y increase. Recovered Brazilian volumes have also begun to weigh on the market. Supply […]

With the latest announcement between India and the US easing Section 232 duties, it is clear the duties, initiated in 2018, are under review. Now that five years have passed, a good amount of data has been gathered to analyze the effects of the policy. Judging from each scheduled review of the economic effects of […]

In the past two months, the US Midwest Hot Rolled Coil (HRC) futures market has experienced significant fluctuations. The initial decline in prices led to destocking and low inventory levels. However, recent price increase announcements by mills halted the downward trend and even reversed it temporarily. The futures curve reflected short-term optimism but indicated that the […]

In the past two months, the US Midwest Hot Rolled Coil (HRC) futures market has experienced significant fluctuations. The initial decline in prices led to destocking and low inventory levels. However, recent price increase announcements by mills halted the downward trend and even reversed it temporarily.

The US hot-rolled coil (HRC) premium over offshore product declined this past week, as prices abroad moved up while domestic tags declined, according to SMU's latest foreign vs. domestic price analysis.

The US hot-rolled coil (HRC) premium over offshore product declined this past week, as prices abroad moved up while domestic tags declined, according to SMU’s latest foreign vs. domestic price analysis. HRC tags stateside declined $20 per ton vs. the prior week, slipping to their lowest level since mid-February. Domestic prices are now down $290 […]