Steel Products Prices North America

SMU Price Ranges & Indices: Only Direction is Up
Written by John Packard
November 16, 2016
Flat rolled steel prices shot up this week in response to two price increase announcements within the past 8 days. ArcelorMittal provided base price guidance on Monday for $560 for hot rolled ($28.00/cwt) and $780 base on cold rolled and coated ($39.00/cwt). A number of mills followed with some announcing $30-$40 per ton and others (NLMK USA) following with specific base price levels matching ArcelorMittal.
Here is how we see prices this week:
Hot Rolled Coil: SMU Range is $520-$560 per ton ($26.00/cwt- $28.00/cwt) with an average of $540 per ton ($27.00/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range jumped up $50 per ton over one week ago while the upper end increased $40 per ton. Our overall average is up $45 per ton over last week. Our price momentum on hot rolled steel has been adjusted to Higher which means that prices are expected to move higher over the next 30-60 days.
Hot Rolled Lead Times: 2-5 weeks
Cold Rolled Coil: SMU Range is $720-$760 per ton ($36.00/cwt- $38.00/cwt) with an average of $740 per ton ($37.00/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range increased $30 per ton over last week while the upper end rose $20 per ton. Our overall average is up $25 per ton over one week ago. Our price momentum on cold rolled steel has been adjusted to Higher which means that prices are expected to move higher over the next 30-60 days.
Cold Rolled Lead Times: 4-8 weeks
Galvanized Coil: SMU Base Price Range is $36.00/cwt-$38.00/cwt ($720-$760 per ton) with an average of $37.00/cwt ($740 per ton) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range rose $40 per ton over one week ago while the upper end increased $20 per ton. Our overall average is up $30 per ton over last week. Our price momentum on galvanized steel has been adjusted to Higher which means that prices are expected to move higher over the next 30-60 days.
Galvanized .060” G90 Benchmark: SMU Range is $780-$820 per net ton with an average of $800 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvanized Lead Times: 4-9 weeks
Galvalume Coil: SMU Base Price Range is $36.00/cwt-$38.00/cwt ($720-$760 per ton) with an average of $37.00/cwt ($740 per ton) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range increased $40 per ton over last week while the upper end increased $20 per ton. Our overall average is up $30 per ton over one week ago. Our price momentum on Galvalume steel has been adjusted to Higher which means that prices are expected to move higher over the next 30-60 days.
Galvalume .0142” AZ50, Grade 80 Benchmark: SMU Range is $1011-$1051 per net ton with an average of $1031 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvalume Lead Times: 4-7 weeks
SMU Note: Below is a graphic showing our hot rolled, cold rolled, galvanized, and Galvalume price history. To use the graphs interactive capabilities, you must view it on our website here. If you need help navigating the website or need to know your login information, contact us at info@SteelMarketUpdate.com or by calling 800-432-3475.

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

Nucor slows HRC price climb with $5/ton increase
After eight weeks of double-digit price increases on hot-rolled (HR) coil, Nucor slowed the price rise this week with an increase of $5 per short ton.

Domestic CRC prices surge ahead of imports
The price spread between stateside-produced CR and imports reached its widest margin in over a year.

Evraz raises plate prices $160/ton
Evraz North America (NA) has followed Nucor and SSAB with a plate price increase of its own: up $160 per short ton (st). The increase was effective immediately for all new orders of carbon, high-strength low-alloy, and normalized and quenched-and-tempered plate products, as well as for hot-rolled coil, the steelmaker said in a letter to […]

Nucor lifts HR coil to $820/ton
Nucor has increased its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled (HR) coil for a fourth consecutive week.

Nucor pushes HR spot price to $790/ton
Nucor increased its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled (HR) coil to $790 per short ton (st) on Monday, Feb. 10 – a $15/st bump vs. last week. The Charlotte, N.C.-based company has raised its weekly CSP by $40/st over the past three weeks after maintaining tags at $750/st since Nov. 12, according to SMU’s […]