Steel Products Prices North America

LME Zinc Spot Prices Hit $1.00 Per Pound
Written by John Packard
July 1, 2014
For those buying coated products, zinc prices have been rising and by the end of the month of June were reported by the LME to be $1.0045 per pound. This is the first time zinc has exceeded $1.00 per pound since September 2011 just prior to the adjustment of the galvanized coating extras in January 2012.
In late 3rd quarter 2011 the zinc spot prices peaked at just over $1.10 per pound. This was the time period when the mills announced they would be adjusting their coating extras.
Steel Market Update does not believe there is any danger of the extras being revised higher unless we begin to see spot zinc pricing over the $1.10 per pound level and climbing for an extended period of time. None-the-less, galvanized, galvanneal and Galvalume (ZAM, Galfan) buyers need to pay attention to the price of zinc over the coming weeks and months.
Aluminum prices has been much more stable closing the month of June at $.8345 per pound which is only marginally higher than what we have seen for the metal over the past few months.

John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Steel Products Prices North America

CRU: Q3 will be the lowest point in current sheet price cycle
CRU Principal Analyst Shankhadeep Mukherjee expects a restocking cycle for steel sheet products in most parts of the world due to either low inventories or seasonally stronger demand.

CRU: US rebar and wire rod prices rise alongside S232 increase
CRU Senior Steel Analyst Alexandra Anderson discusses current market and pricing dynamics for long steel products in the US.

SMU Price Ranges: Sheet and plate steady ahead of Independence Day
Sheet and plate prices were little changed in the shortened week ahead of Independence Day, according to SMU’s latest check of the market.

Nucor maintains plate prices, opens August order book
Nucor aims to keep plate prices flat again with the opening of its August order book.

Nucor CSP remains level at $900/ton
Nucor maintained its weekly list price for hot-rolled (HR) coil this week, following two consecutive increases.