After a brief dip last month, iron ore prices have resumed their upward trajectory as the war in the Middle East escalates. Elevated costs have established a new pricing norm, keeping iron ore prices firm even as current levels exceed what supply‑demand balance would justify. Meanwhile, Simandou is finally gaining momentum after a slow start. Quality remains the decisive factor for steelmakers sourcing from the seaborne market, reshaping trade flows.
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.
Nucor Plate Group will maintain its previously announced fuel surcharge of $10 per short ton for next month, effective on all shipments beginning June 1.
Sources told SMU they’ve begun considering whether US imports of sheet might benefit the overall market.
This item was first published by CRU. To learn about CRU’s global commodities research and analysis services, visit www.crugroup.com. The uptrend in sheet prices is expected to continue in the coming month in most markets amid elevated energy and freight costs stemming from the Middle East conflict. Europe will buck the trend as demand in the […]
Buyers continue to report mills are holding a firm grip on sheet and plate prices.
Plate market participants wonder how plate supply will hold up in coming weeks and months, sources told SMU. Some sources called out dwindling availability of heavier grades and said certain domestic producers have “a huge backlog.” of all grades.
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.
In a May 11 price notice, SSAB upped its transaction prices for new, non-contract plate orders confirmed to ship from June 28 onward.
On Monday, Nucor hiked its spot HR price by $10/ton.
Sheet market participants found modest spot price increases this past week, but conceded that overall market conditions remained stable.
Plate market participants expect additional base price hikes from domestic mills, something that has some eyeing imports.
Sheet and plate prices remained on an upward trend as industry sources increasingly asked whether improved demand might be driving the market as much as limited supply.
Nucor increased its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled (HR) coil to $1,070 per short ton (st), a $5/st increase from last week.
I haven’t done a deep dive into our sentiment data for a little while. And it’s timely to do so now. Why? Because we’re seeing what I’ll call the inverted yield curve of steel buyers’ sentiment.
Oregon Steel Mills (OSM) is attempting to push spot plate prices up by a minimum of $60 per short ton (st).
Domestic sheet market participants found business conditions remarkably consistent this week.
Steel buyers remain highly optimistic about their businesses’ chances of success today and in the near future, according to SMU’s Steel Buyers’ Sentiment Indices.
This week we saw low negotiation rates across all products, though coated products are the most negotiable and plate products are the least.
The Chicago Business Barometer eased for a second consecutive month in April. The 3.6-point slip to 49.2 for the month represents a fall back into contractionary territory.
Market sources say 2026 could be a stronger year for plate market participants than 2025 if this week’s conditions are indicative of how the rest of the year plays out.
Each of SMU’s sheet and plate price indices climbed higher this week, with all products rising further to new multi-year highs.
Recent conversations with plate market participants across the US revealed a wide range of experiences contingent on a variety of factors.
Nucor has increased its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled (HR) coil to $1,065 per short ton (st), a $10/st increase from last week.
Sheet market participants reported steady to elevated demand over the past week. But while spot prices continued to edge up, some sources said lead times were becoming more closely aligned to industry norms.
The price gap between US hot-rolled coil (HR) and landed offshore product tightened this week. The dynamic continues as both stateside and offshore prices have largely trended higher.
As the steel market works through the first month of Q2 and the spring outage season, the US HRC futures curve continues to reflect a market adjusting to tightening conditions. The recalibration of near-term expectations sets the stage for how the curve has developed in recent weeks.
According to the latest findings from SMU’s survey, more respondents answered that President Trump’s tariff policies have been helpful to their businesses than in the prior survey.
In a Final Thoughts las week, I asked “Got Steel?” And if you’re looking for spot tons in June, the answer still isn’t obvious.
Each of SMU’s sheet and plate price indices climbed higher this week, with most products rising further to new multi-year highs