Steel Products Prices North America
Early Review of September Steel Import License Data Show No Change in Trend
Written by John Packard
September 10, 2015
The U.S. Department of Commerce (US DOC) released final July Census Data which means they have announced the final steel import numbers for the month. Total steel imports for the month of July 2015 were 3,285,600 net tons (SMU converts the USDOC metric ton data into net tons for our readers).
The July totals were very close to our three month moving average (3MMA) of 3,261,433 net tons and well below the 12 month moving average of 3,698,181 net tons. This shows us that imports are beginning to decline from the highs seen in late 2014 and early 2015.
August license data through Tuesday, September 8th, is indicating that August imports will be down compared to July as well as against the 3MMA and 12MMA. License data has the month trending toward just over 3.0 million tons (3,098,721 net tons).
In the table below we are also providing a very early peak at September license data and how it is trending. I would not put any credibility to the number shown as it is only through the first 8 days of the month. What we are looking for is to see if there is any break in the trend indicating lower volumes of imports for the month of September vs. July/August. We are not seeing any break in the cycle based on the first 8 days and, at this moment it appears September imports will be similar to the prior two months.
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Steel Products Prices North America
SMU Community Chat: Timna Tanners on ‘Trumplications’ for steel in 2025
Wolfe Research's Managing Director Timna Tanners discusses the 'Trumplications' for steel in the coming year in this week's SMU Community Chat.
Nucor raises hot rolled spot price to $750/ton
Nucor raised its weekly consumer spot price (CSP) for HRC this week to $750/short ton.
SMU price ranges: Most sheet and plate products drift lower
Steel sheet prices mostly edged lower for a second week, while plate prices slipped for the third consecutive week.
Nucor drops HRC price to $720/ton
After holding its weekly spot price for hot-rolled (HR) coil steady for three weeks at $730 per short ton (st), Nucor lowered the price this week by $10/st.
SMU price ranges: Sheet slips, plate falls to 45-month low
Steel sheet and plate prices moved lower this week as efforts among some mills to hold the line on tags ran up against continued concerns about demand.