Tag: Plate

Most steel buyers responding to our market survey this week said domestic mills remain unwilling to negotiate lower prices for new spot orders.

SMU's sheet and plate prices increased this week to new multi-month highs.

Plate industry sources said the market has been characterized by three factors lately: fewer domestic mills willing to fulfill spot buys, inconsistent lead times, and erratic demand.

Trade for many of the sheet and plate products we follow has fallen to multi-year lows through December.

US hot-rolled coil prices are set to rise year on year in 2026, but the market will face heightened volatility as import flows recover and new domestic capacity comes online, CRU Research Principal Josh Spoores said at this year's Tampa Steel Conference. 

Sheet prices continue to grind higher on tight supply and 'okay' demand. Plate finally saw some movement after weeks of stability as price increases begin to stick.

Steel imports slowed further in December and January to some of the lowest volumes recorded in recent years.

The US Department of Commerce is adjusting the countervailing duties (CVDs) on steel plate imports from Korea.

Global steel plate prices are expected to trend upward as North American restocking and European regulatory costs will drive the market, even as recovery in Asian markets remains gradual and cost-dependent.

Hot rolled and galvanized lead times are about half a week longer than they were three months ago, while production times for cold rolled, Galvalume, and plate products are one to two weeks longer.

Since late 2025, mills have begun to hold a firmer stance on prices, tightening their grip at the start of this year and holding on since

Once wintery weather gives way to sunnier spring conditions, plate sources foresee the market accepting the $50-60 per short ton spot price increases issued by Nucor Plate Group, Oregon Steel Mills, and SSAB. 

Three of SMU’s price indices increased this week, while two remained steady, all holding at multi-month highs.

US service centers’ flat-rolled steel supply declined in January, after trending higher in December. Shipping days of supply slipped to 58.5 on an adjusted basis at the end of January, according to SMU data.

SSAB Americas wants to increase plate prices by at least $60 per short ton, $10 more than rival Nucor’s price hike last week.

Nucor on Friday announced plans to increase plate prices by $50 per short ton (st).

SMU’s sheet price indices inched up to new multi-month highs this week, while plate prices held steady.

Plate production for the construction of the Polar Max Icebreaker is underway at Algoma’s Sault Ste. Marie facility in Ontario.  

Plate market participants expect domestic producers to issue a $40-60 per short ton (st) price increase.

November steel exports tumbled 15% from October to the lowest monthly export rate since July 2020.

One third of the steel buyers responding to our market survey this week reported that domestic mills are negotiable on new spot order pricing. Mills began to hold a firmer stance on prices towards the end of last year, tightening their grip in early January and holding it since.

Steel mill lead times marginally declined on sheet products this week but edged higher on plate, according to responses from SMU’s latest market survey. Overall, lead times remain one to two weeks longer than levels seen three months ago.

Flat-rolled steel prices inched upward again this week as mixed demand appeared to be offset by limited supplies.

Steel imports remain weak in November and December according to recently released final US Commerce Department data. Many of the sheet and plate products we follow slipped to multi-year lows.

SSAB Americas delivered higher shipments and a stronger operating result in the fourth quarter of 2025. The company saw firm demand in key US end markets and a solid finish to the year despite a planned maintenance outage.

Sheet prices mostly continued their uneven but steady march higher this week, according to SMU’s latest check of the market.

Steel mill lead times held steady on most products this week following the surge seen in early January, according to responses from SMU’s latest market survey

The plate market’s swell of optimistic sentiment marking the start of 2026 dissipated this week.  

Just over a third of the steel buyers who responded to our market survey this week reported that domestic mills are willing to talk price to secure new spot orders.

US service centers’ flat-rolled steel supply recovered in December, after trending lower from September to November.