Steel Products Prices North America
CRU: When Will HR Coil Prices Peak?
Written by Tim Triplett
March 14, 2019
By CRU Principal Analyst Josh Spoores
As forecast, HR coil prices in the U.S. are rising – but when might they peak?
Steelmakers in the U.S. have now announced their second $40 /s.ton price increase for sheet products. At CRU, we have been expecting the recent downward price cycle to turn and have been advising clients of this through our market conversations as well as Market Outlook services.
Initial fundamental support for higher sheet prices came both from rising seasonal demand and lower available supply. Since late January, however, the prospect of higher steelmaking costs is also providing further, more noticeable support. Our forecast calls for prices to rise in the near term, though the duration of increases may be measured in months, rather than quarters.
Tim Triplett
Read more from Tim TriplettLatest in Steel Products Prices North America
Market says cutting interest rates will spur stalled domestic plate demand
Market sources say demand for domestic plate refuses to budge despite stagnating prices.
SMU Price Ranges: Some predict bottom is near as big discounts dry up
Sheet prices were mixed this week as some mills continued to offer significant discounts to larger buyers while others have shifted toward being more disciplined, market participants said.
SMU Price Ranges: Tags mixed as uncertainty weighs on market
SMU’s hot-rolled (HR) coil price held steady this week while prices for other sheet and plate products declined.
Nucor spot HR list price unchanged at $875/ton
Nucor kept its weekly list price for hot-rolled (HR) coil unchanged this week, following a price bump of $10 per short ton (st) last week.
SMU price ranges: Flat-rolled balloon continues to leak
Sheet and plate prices were flat or lower again this week on continued concerns about demand and higher production rates among US mills.