
SMU Price Ranges: HR slips, hopes for Q4 rebound still standing
SMU’s price ranges were mixed again this week as the market continues to seek a floor amid industry hopes for a Q4 rebound.
SMU’s price ranges were mixed again this week as the market continues to seek a floor amid industry hopes for a Q4 rebound.
Nucor held its hot-rolled coil list price flat again this week, according to its Monday, Sept. 15 consumer spot price (CSP) notice.
Domestic hot-rolled (HR) coil prices ticked down this week after holding flat since mid-August. Offshore prices largely all moved higher week over week (w/w), widening the margin between stateside and foreign product.
Participants in the hot-rolled steel sheet market expect the market to remain subdued through the end of the year.
The price spread between prime scrap and hot-rolled coil (HRC) narrowed by a hair this month, according to SMU’s most recent pricing data.
US steel imports declined for the second consecutive month in July, according to recently finalized US Commerce Department data.
Nucor kept hot-rolled (HR) coil prices unchanged this week, according to its latest consumer spot price (CSP) notice on Sept. 8.
I’ve been getting some calls lately from some of you who want to kick around ideas on where prices might bottom and when.
Sheet and plate lead times held steady yet again this week, according to steel buyers responding to our latest market survey, a trend in place since May.
The US government determined this week that hot-rolled steel imports from a handful of countries continue to threaten the domestic steel industry.
The majority of steel buyers responding to this week’s market survey continue to report that mills are open to negotiating spot prices on sheet and plate products.
Nucor’s Dan Needham views the steelmaker’s flexibility and diversification as key to pivoting when economic conditions require.
Steel prices remained largely unchanged this week, staying at or near lows last seen in February. All five sheet and plate products tracked by SMU moved by no more than $5 per short ton (st) from the previous week.
Nucor is attempting to halt the decline in hot-rolled coil prices with the announcement of a $10-per-short-ton increase in its weekly consumer spot price on Monday.
Steel buyers report steady lead times for sheet and plate products, a soft-sideways trend we've seen since May.
HRC prices in the US eroded further last week, while offshore prices varied week over week (w/w), widening the price margin between stateside and foreign product.
Sheet and plate prices were flat or lower again this week on continued concerns about demand and higher production rates among US mills.
The price spread between prime scrap and hot-rolled coil (HRC) narrowed in August, according to SMU’s most recent pricing data.
All five of SMU's steel sheet and plate price indices declined this week, falling to lows last seen in February.
Nucor has implemented a double-digit price decrease on spot hot-rolled (HR) coil for the second consecutive week.
Following January’s pre-tariff surge, imports have remained low since February compared to post-pandemic volumes
Mill production times for sheet products are holding just above multi-year lows, while plate lead times remain elevated.
Most steel buyers continue to report that mills are open to negotiating spot prices. Negotiation rates have remained high for most of the past three months.
Sheet and plate prices were either flat or modestly lower this week on softer demand and increasing domestic capacity.
Nucor’s weekly consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled (HR) coil was adjusted $10 per short ton (st) lower this week after holding steady last week.
Hot-rolled (HR) coil prices in the US edged lower again this week, while offshore price were little changed. Stateside prices continue to trail imports from Europe, supported by Section 232 steel tariffs.
Sheet prices slipped again this week amid discounting from certain mills and ongoing concerns about demand.
Steel mill lead times on sheet products contracted across the board this week compared to early July, while plate production times moderately extended, according to steel buyers responding to this week’s market survey.
After a period of backwardation driven by headlines and CRU index anchoring, the CME HRC curve structure has undergone a notable shift.
Steel prices continued to decline this week across all of the sheet and plate products tracked by SMU, pressured by short lead times and the typical summer slowdown.