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    SMU Price Ranges & Indices: The Slide Continues

    Written by Brett Linton


    Steel buyers reported lower spot offers and transactions on flat rolled and plate products this week. However, the offers varied from mill to mill, and even in some cases varied within the same company but coming from different plants. The number of transactions appear to be lower than in weeks past, and the size of the spot orders appear to be lower as well. SMU was not made aware of any “bottom feeding” (i.e. a large company attempting to buy significant tons well below market pricing). Although at least one service center reported end users “sniffing” by suggesting they would book a rest of the year deal at “X” price. Our Price Momentum Indicator continues to reference spot prices as moving Lower over the next 30 days.

    Here is how we are seeing prices this week:

    Brett Linton

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    Plate supply squeeze tightens as demand presses higher

    The domestic plate market is showing few signs of relief for steel buyers. Lead times are stretching well beyond seasonal norms, spot availability has all but evaporated, and mills are drawing hard lines on contract volumes heading into 2027 negotiations. And the supply squeeze will likely intensify in a market that some industry sources say is structurally undersupplied because of stringent US trade and tariff policies. Imports have been arriving in larger volumes, and the expectation is they will continue to tick higher into 2027. The big question is whether those foreign tons will arrive in volumes sufficient to provide the relief steel consumers want.