SMU Data and Models
SMU Comparison Price Indices: Quiet Week
Written by John Packard
December 1, 2013
Steel Market Update (SMU) follows four other indices besides our own and provides the data to our members on a weekly basis. Recently, we asked our readers if they would like for us to continue providing CRU data and the responses indicated there continues to be an interest in their numbers. We have agreed to a new contact with CRU and will continue to supply the numbers over the next 12 months.
With the exception of SteelBenchmarker, prices remained unchanged over the past week. SteelBenchmarker, which only produces prices twice per month, did come out with new numbers which essentially, caught them up with the rest of the indexes.
The benchmark hot rolled numbers show almost every index at $670 per ton with the exception of Platts which is $10 per ton higher. The indexes are referencing cold rolled at $780 per ton (or close) with the exception of Steel Orbis which is $10 per ton lower. Steel Orbis is also referencing galvanized and Galvalume prices much lower than where SMU and CRU have set our averages.
FOB Points for each index:
SMU: Domestic Mill, East of the Rockies.
CRU: Midwest Mill, East of the Rockies.
SteelBenchmarker: Domestic Mill, East of the Mississippi.
SteelOrbis: Midwest Domestic Mill.
Platts: Within 200-300 mile radius of Northern Indiana Domestic Mill.
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in SMU Data and Models
SMU Survey: Mill lead times remain stable and short
Steel buyers participating in our market survey this week reported stable mill lead times for both sheet and plate steel products.
SMU Survey: Most buyers report mills still willing to talk price
Most steel buyers SMU polled this week reported that mills remain willing to negotiate new order pricing.
October service center shipments and inventories report
Flat rolled = 63.4 shipping days of supply Plate = 52.4 shipping days of supply Flat rolled shipments and inventories Flat-rolled steel supply at US service centers remains seasonally high. October inventories increased after edging lower in September – a dynamic driven largely by disappointing demand. October’s report reflects lower demand and stable lead times […]
Apparent steel supply slips to 7-month low in September
The total amount of finished steel to enter the US market in September fell to its lowest level in seven months, according to our analysis of recent Department of Commerce and the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) data
SMU market survey results now available
SMU’s latest steel buyers market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members. After logging in at steelmarketupdate.com, visit the pricing and analysis tab and look under the “survey results” section for “latest survey results.” Past survey results are also available under that selection. If you need help accessing the survey results, or if […]