Tag: Galvalume

Most sheet and plate steel prices declined yet again this week, with four of SMU’s five indices moving lower.

SMU’s flat-rolled steel prices were flat or lower as tariff-related uncertainty continued to drag on the market.

Steel buyers responding to this week’s SMU market survey report a continued softening in sheet lead times. Meanwhile, plate lead times have moderately extended and are at a one-year high.

Nearly half of the steel buyers responding to this week’s SMU market survey say domestic mills are showing increased willingness to negotiate pricing on new spot orders. This marks a significant shift from the firmer stance mills held in prior weeks.

Steel prices slipped again this week, with all five of SMU’s sheet and plate indices trending lower for the second week in a row.

This week is the first time all of our indices have moved lower in unison since July 2024.

The Commerce Department has made a preliminary determination that ‘critical circumstances’ exist for certain imports of corrosion-resistant (CORE) flat-rolled steel from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Commerce decided that critical circumstances did not apply to CORE from South Africa. The department also found that critical circumstances did not apply to CORE from UAE producers Al-Ghurair Iron & Steel LLC and United Iron & Steel Company LLC.

Sheet and plate prices were mixed on Tuesday as the market took a wait-and-see approach to the Trump administration’s “Liberation Day” tariffs.

A personal perspective on Galvalume prices from SMU analyst Brett Linton.

SMU's steel price indices moved in differing directions this week but remained largely stable as cautious buyers await clarity on pending steel tariffs and trade cases.

After a multi-week increase, buyers responding to our market survey this week reported that lead times are stabilizing or marginally declining for each of the sheet and plate products we track.

Steel prices were stable to higher this week for the second consecutive week across the sheet and plate products tracked by SMU. Three of our price indices increased from the previous week, while two held firm.

Ternium Mexico wants the Commerce Department to delay making its final decision in the ongoing corrosion-resistant steel dumping investigation.

Steel prices climbed across the board this week, with every steel product tracked by SMU rising to multi-month highs.

One buyer summed up the prevailing sentiment: “Everything is pointing up — pricing, sentiment, order activity. But the real test will come once the immediate reactionary buying subsides. Will there be enough true demand to support these levels through mid-year? That’s the big unknown.”

"Recent activity in the marketplace strongly indicates that these imports are being rushed into the United States in an effort to avoid the imposition of antidumping duties," petitioners said.

Mills’ flexibility on price for spot orders has taken a nosedive to levels not seen since the end of March 2023.

U.S. Steel has increased prices for flat-rolled steel by at least $50 per short ton (st), according to market participants. The Pittsburgh-based steelmaker now seeks a minimum of $850/st for hot-rolled (HR) coil. And it seeks at least $1,050/st for cold-rolled and coated base prices, they said.

Each of the steel product prices tracked by SMU saw significant increases this week. All four of our sheet price indices rose by $30-50 per short ton (st) on average. Plate prices popped $60/st compared to the week prior.

Steel mill negotiation rates have declined in each of our last two surveys; this week’s rate is the lowest recorded since March 2024.

SMU’s steel price indices rose across the board this week. Sheet prices increased as much as $35 per short ton (st) compared to last week, while our average plate price ticked up by$10/st.

The Commerce Department on Tuesday issued preliminary subsidy rates in the corrosion-resistant steel (CORE) trade case. The agency set minimal countervailing duty (CVD) rates for Brazil and Mexico, mostly high rates for Vietnam, and low rates for Canada, except for one privately held distributor. Commerce assigned that company, Nova Steel, and a handful of Vietnamese […]

Less-than-fair-value investigations The US Commerce Department has agreed to postpone preliminary decisions in the corrosion-resistant steel (CORE) antidumping duty (AD) investigations. Commerce said in a Federal Register filing that it will now issue initial AD margin determinations by April 3. The deadline had previously been Feb. 12. The extension comes after domestic petitioners requested earlier […]

The majority of steel buyers we canvassed this week continue to report that mills are willing to negotiate prices on new spot orders, though not as much as they were in early-January.  

Sheet and plate prices remained in a holding pattern this week as the market awaited more specifics on potential Trump administration tariffs.

Reflecting on 2024 and looking ahead to the new year, galvanized steel buyers on this month’s HARDI call expressed a mix of cautious optimism with lingering uncertainties.

The steel industry may have to wait even longer for the initial duty determinations in the pending coated steel unfair trade investigations.

Steel prices have remained relatively stable in recent weeks, though they have generally trended downward since October.

SMU's price indices saw minor fluctuations on sheet products this week, while our plate and Galvalume indices held steady.

SMU’s flat-rolled steel prices were mixed this week with slight declines across most products and a modest increase in prices for cold-rolled coil.