Steel Products Prices North America

SMU Price Ranges & Indices: Market Still Has Momentum
Written by Brett Linton
September 7, 2021
Market momentum suggests that flat rolled steel prices are likely to continue moving up, at least in the short term, as hot rolled hit a new record high once again this week at an average of $1,955 per ton, up $20 over last week, according to SMU’s check of the market on Monday and Tuesday. Cold rolled and galvanized saw even bigger jumps. Buyers report that demand remains robust and supplies tight, with little or no spot tonnage available from steelmakers. Competition from lower priced steel imports arriving in the U.S. does not appear to have had much impact yet on domestic prices. As one exec commented: “The mills remain very much in control.” Added another: “It seems like there is some extra demand due to the very destructive Hurricane Ida.”
Hot Rolled Coil: SMU price range is $1,910-$2,000 per net ton ($95.50-$100.00/cwt) with an average of $1,955 per ton ($97.75/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range increased $40 per ton compared to last week, while the upper end remained unchanged. Our overall average is up $20 per ton from one week ago. Our price momentum on hot rolled steel is Higher, meaning prices are expected to rise in the next 30 days.
Hot Rolled Lead Times: 7-12 weeks
Cold Rolled Coil: SMU price range is $2,100-$2,200 per net ton ($105.00-$110.00/cwt) with an average of $2,150 per ton ($107.50/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range increased $100 per ton compared to one week ago, while the upper end remained unchanged. Our overall average is up $50 per ton from last week. Our price momentum on cold rolled steel is Higher, meaning prices are expected to rise in the next 30 days.
Cold Rolled Lead Times: 9-13 weeks
Galvanized Coil: SMU price range is $2,100-$2,200 per net ton ($105.00-$110.00/cwt) with an average of $2,150 per ton ($107.50/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range increased $165 per ton compared to last week, while the upper end decreased $5. Our overall average is up $80 per ton from one week ago. Our price momentum on galvanized steel is Higher, meaning prices are expected to rise in the next 30 days.
Galvanized .060” G90 Benchmark: SMU price range is $2,178-$2,278 per ton with an average of $2,228 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvanized Lead Times: 10-14 weeks
Galvalume Coil: SMU price range is $2,040-$2,190 per net ton ($102.00-$109.50/cwt) with an average of $2,115 per ton ($105.75/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. Both the lower and upper ends of our range remained unchanged compared to one week ago. Our overall average is unchanged from last week. Our price momentum on Galvalume steel is Higher, meaning prices are expected to rise in the next 30 days.
Galvalume .0142” AZ50, Grade 80 Benchmark: SMU price range is $2,331-$2,481 per ton with an average of $2,406 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.
Galvalume Lead Times: 8-15 weeks
Plate: SMU price range is $1,650-$1,900 per net ton ($82.50-$95.00/cwt) with an average of $1,775 per ton ($88.75/cwt) FOB mill. Both the lower and upper ends of our range remained unchanged compared to last week. Our overall average is unchanged from one week ago. Our price momentum on plate steel is Higher, meaning prices are expected to rise in the next 30 days.
Plate Lead Times: 8-10 weeks
SMU Note: Below is a graphic showing our hot rolled, cold rolled, galvanized, Galvalume and plate price history. This data is available here on our website with our interactive pricing tool. If you need help navigating the website or need to know your login information, contact us at info@SteelMarketUpdate.com.

Brett Linton
Read more from Brett LintonLatest in Steel Products Prices North America

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 […]

ArcelorMittal Dofasco increases spot sheet prices
ArcelorMittal Dofasco is raising spot sheet prices by CA$100 per ton (US$70/ton). The Hamilton, Ontario-based flat rolled steelmaker told customers the increase is effective immediately for all new orders. It did not specify to what level this brings its base prices but noted its right to re-quote previous but unconfirmed orders. “We will continue to […]

Nucor raises HR spot price to $775/ton
Nucor increased its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled (HR) coil to $775 per short ton (st) on Monday, Feb. 3. The $15/st week-on-week (w/w) rise marks the first back-to-back increases in the steelmaker’s weekly CSP since last August, according to SMU’s mill price announcement calendar. Nucor’s joint-venture subsidiary California Steel Industries (CSI) is also up […]

Nucor raises HR spot price to $760/ton
Nucor increased its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled (HR) coil to $760 per short ton (st) on Monday, Jan. 21. The $10/st week-on-week (w/w) rise marks the first increase in the CSP since Nov. 12. According to SMU’s mill price announcement calendar, the Charlotte, N.C.-based steelmaker held the weekly price at $750/st for 11 […]