Tag: Galvanized

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.

Steel mill lead times remained extended on both sheet and plate products this week, according to buyers responding to our latest market survey. Production times have been historically long for most of the summer, remaining at or near multi-year highs across all of the products we track.

Most steel buyers who responded to our market survey this week reported that mills are holding a firm grip on sheet and plate prices. The share of buyers reporting that mills were negotiable fell to the lowest rate seen in almost five years. Negotiation rates for three sheet products are down to multi-year lows.

Sheet prices and plate prices continued their relentless march higher over the last week as more participants said they were effectively on allocation, especially when it comes to hot-rolled (HR) coil.

Total shipments of heating and cooling equipment improved 10% from May to June, according to the latest figures from the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). The improved month-on-month (m/m) pace also marks the highest shipment rate of the past two years.

The spread between hot-rolled (HR) and galvanized coil has widened over the last month. As of Tuesday, Aug. 11, the gap stood at $230 per short ton (st), up $30 from $200/st on July 14 and a $10 increase from the prior week’s $220/st. On Aug. 12, 2025, the spread was $145/st.

Sheet and plate prices either held their ground or increased this week amid what remains an historically tight spot market.

Nucor announced on Monday, Aug. 10, revised galvanized and galvannealed coating extras higher by an average of 11%.

Licenses to import steel into the US surged in July to the highest level since June 2025, according to recently released US Commerce Department data. Final June figures show a 3.8% month-on-month decline, while July licenses show a 9% recovery.

Most steel buyers report that mills are unwilling to budge on new sheet and plate spot order prices this week. Negotiation rates have been low for most of this year, having recently fallen to one of the lowest measures recorded in almost five years.

Sheet and plate prices continue to rise on extremely limited spot availability, long lead times, and solid demand, according to market participants.

The US Court of International Trade (CIT) has ordered the Commerce Department to redo its final dumping determination for Mexico’s Galvasid SA de CV in the corrosion-resistant (CORE) steel investigation.

SMU’s sheet and plate price indices were steady to higher this week, with all products at multi-year highs.

The US Department of Commerce is adjusting the import duties on Korean cold-rolled and galvanized steel after two administrative reviews.

Cleveland-Cliffs’ top executive said any restart of the blast furnace at its Dearborn Works in Michigan hinges on automakers reshoring more production to the US.

Steel mill lead times have trended upward since last November and now stand at or near multi-year highs for all products.

Sheet prices continued to grind higher this week on factors familiar to most steel market participants: extremely limited spot availability, long lead times, low inventories, and firm demand.

The galvanized steel market isn't surging anymore; it's grinding.

Monthly steel imports rose back above 2 million short tons (st) in May and June, further recovering from the historic lows seen late last year, according to recent Commerce data.

Hot-rolled and cold-rolled prices held steady again this week while prices for coated products and plate continued to tick upward.

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.

AZZ President and CEO Tom Ferguson said the Texas-based coil coating and galvanizing company is off to a great start in its 2027 fiscal year.

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.

The investigation follows requests from US producers Nucor and Steel Dynamics.

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.

What comes next? Do prices plateau and then dip in late Q3/Q4 – which is what we saw in 2021? Or do they continue to rise into 2027?

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.

Galvanized sheet buyers and distributors report that strong demand and constrained supply persist, exerting upward pressure on prices.