Hot Rolled Futures: Where is the next Support Level for HRC?

In fact, if anything looks wrong with the below table, it is that the exchange doesn’t seem to have been properly valuing the December contract  low enough given the first index print…so expect that $384/ton number to be revised sharply lower in the days ahead. With that said, here is how it stands basis last night’s settlement:

Last time we were writing here we saw the descent in HRC prices beginning to slow, which certainly instilled some minor confidence in a market that was settling for whatever it could get in the way of positive news. The optimism was largely dashed when it became clear that imports were starting to pick up yet again, and that the global overcapacity issue was still not being held at bay by the various trade cases in the works.

The sharp declines have prompted renewed questions about where this market will find support, as previous calls for support at $400 and then $375 and then $365/ton all proved to be short pit-stops on the road lower, as we are now thoroughly below all these levels on a spot index basis. That prompted additional Q1 selling yesterday at $392/ton, well below the previously expected $400/ton level which was the expected rebound level in early 2016 up until recently.

That means contango levels have remained relatively healthy, as carries out to Q1 of over $30/ton will likely continue to entice some selling interest. That is because as much as we would like to say that we see a rally right around the corner, there isn’t much fundamental justification for that given the world is awash with excess steel while domestic demand is not breaking out in any meaningful way. It seems likely we will limp around in the current spot range through year-end, and perhaps we could see some modest increases on the back of restocking in the New Year. Of course seasonal restocking rallies were something that was fairly dependable, until this year of course, when the period offered zero additional support…

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