CRU launches US Galvalume benchmark
On July 1, CRU launched a US Galvalume coil benchmark price to serve this growing market.
On July 1, CRU launched a US Galvalume coil benchmark price to serve this growing market.
Steel mill lead times for flat-rolled steel this week remained extended at historical highs. Plate production times crept out further, while hot-rolled and cold-rolled (HR/CR) coil saw minor contractions.
The majority of steel buyers we polled this week reported that mills are holding firm on new order spot prices.
Market reaction to Nucor’s move was mixed. Some sources said a flat CSP reflected concerns that further increases in US HR prices could attract more import competition. Others expressed frustration. Their view: CSP has kept a lid on prices, something that shouldn’t happen when many buyers remain more concerned about availability than price.
Hot-rolled (HR) coil and plate prices continued to tick higher even as cold-rolled (CR) and coated prices came in unchanged, according to SMU’s latest check of the market.
Steel mill lead times remained extended this week on both sheet and plate products. Current production times three to four weeks longer than levels seen last summer.
Steel buyers negotiation rates remain at or near historic lows across most sheet and plate products.
US sheet prices continue to move higher on extremely limited spot availability, solid demand, and extended lead times.
SMU’s sheet price indices increased further this week, while plate held steady, all at multi-year highs.
Steel mill lead times extended this week on both sheet and plate products, now at multi-year highs.
This week we saw continued low negotiation rates across all products, with cold rolled and plate the least negotiable and galvanized the most.
All five of SMU’s price indices increased this week to new multi-year highs. Prices have increased by 20-25% since the beginning of the year.
We are happy to share that the SMU Price Estimator Tool is now a little easier to navigate.
SMU’s sheet price indices continued to climb this week, while plate held steady, all at multi-year highs.
U.S. Steel (USS) has revised their galvanized and Galvalume coating extras higher effective Aug. 2, 2026.
Steel mill lead times remain at or near multi-year highs for all sheet and plate products.
This week we saw low negotiation rates across all products, with coated and plate products slightly more negotiable than hot rolled and cold rolled.
Sheet and plate price indices increased between $5-20 per short ton (st) from last week.
Sheet prices continue to rise in a market that remains characterized by extremely limited spot availability, solid demand, long lead times, and the lowest sheet inventories since May 2021.
SMU Survey: Sheet and plate lead times remain extended, according to buyers responding to our latest market survey.
Buyers continue to report mills are holding a firm grip on sheet and plate prices.
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.
Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) has revised their metallic coating extras higher for galvanized, Galvalume, Galfan, and aluminized type 1 products.
Steel mill lead times continue to hold at or near multi-year highs for both sheet and plate products, territory they have been in two months.
Each of SMU’s sheet and plate price indices climbed higher this week, with all products rising further to new multi-year highs.
Each of SMU’s sheet and plate price indices climbed higher this week, with most products rising further to new multi-year highs
Sheet and plate prices increased yet again this week on an increasingly tight spot market. It's gotten so tight that some market participants say they're becoming more concerned about availability than about price.
Sheet and plate prices continued to hold steady or tick upward once again this week. And the factors behind the gains are familiar ones: limited spot tonnage, stable demand, limited import competition, and outages (planned or otherwise) at domestic mills.
Steel mill production times for sheet and plate products remain at or near multi-year highs, according to buyers responding to our latest market survey.
Most steel buyers report that mills are not willing to negotiate on new order spot prices, according to our latest market survey. Mill negotiability is now down to one of the lowest rates measured in over a year.