Steel Products Prices North America

SMU Price Ranges & Indices: Ukraine War Spark’s Biggest Week-Over-Week Gains Ever

March 15, 2022

Sheet prices saw their biggest week-over-week gains – and by a wide margin – since Steel Market Update’s foundation in 2008. Case in point: SMU’s average hot-rolled coil price jumped to $1,260 per ton this week ($63 per cwt), up $210 per ton (20%) from $1,050 per ton last week. That is more than double the prior record for a weekly gain: $85 per ton, recorded on Dec. 15, 2020. An unexpected snapback in demand following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic drove prices sharply higher in late 2020. The shock to the system this time came from Russian forces invading Ukraine on Feb. 24. That led to an almost immediate supply squeeze in raw materials – pig iron, slab and ferroalloys, for example – and sharply higher finished steel prices in Europe. Those increases have now flown through to North American pricing as well. Even plate prices, which have been largely flat since the beginning of this year, are now up. SMU adjusted its HRC price momentum indicator from neutral to higher last week. Price momentum indicators for all products have been adjusted to higher this week.

Hot Rolled Coil: SMU price range is $1,170-$1,350 per net ton ($58.50-$67.50/cwt) with an average of $1,260 per ton ($63.00/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range increased $270 per ton compared to one week ago, while the upper end increased $150 per ton. Our overall average is up $210 per ton from last week. Our price momentum on hot rolled steel continues to point toward Higher prices over the next 30 days.

Hot Rolled Lead Times: 3-8 weeks* (preliminary ranges from our ongoing market survey, final lead times data will be released on Thursday).

Cold Rolled Coil: SMU price range is $1,600-$1,800 per net ton ($80.00-$90.00/cwt) with an average of $1,700 per ton ($85.00/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range increased $150 per ton compared to last week, while the upper end increased $200 per ton. Our overall average is up $175 per ton from one week ago. Our price momentum on cold rolled steel is now pointing toward Higher prices over the next 30 days.

Cold Rolled Lead Times: 4-10 weeks*

Galvanized Coil: SMU price range is $1,600-$1,740 per net ton ($80.00-$87.00/cwt) with an average of $1,670 per ton ($83.50/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range increased $220 per ton compared to one week ago, while the upper end increased $160 per ton. Our overall average is up $190 per ton from last week. Our price momentum on galvanized steel is now pointing toward Higher prices over the next 30 days.

Galvanized .060” G90 Benchmark: SMU price range is $1,697-$1,837 per ton with an average of $1,767 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.

Galvanized Lead Times: 5-10 weeks*

Galvalume Coil: SMU price range is $1,600-$1,870 per net ton ($80.00-$93.50/cwt) with an average of $1,735 per ton ($86.75/cwt) FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range increased $220 per ton compared to last week, while the upper end increased $290 per ton. Our overall average is up $255 per ton from one week ago. Our price momentum on Galvalume steel is now pointing toward Higher prices over the next 30 days.

Galvalume .0142” AZ50, Grade 80 Benchmark: SMU price range is $1,891-$2,161 per ton with an average of $2,026 per ton FOB mill, east of the Rockies.

Galvalume Lead Times: 6-10 weeks*

Plate: SMU price range is $1,800-$1,900 per net ton ($90.00-$95.00/cwt) with an average of $1,850 per ton ($92.50/cwt) FOB mill. The lower end of our range declined $10 per ton compared to one week ago, while the upper end increased $80 per ton. Our overall average is up $35 per ton from last week. Our price momentum on plate steel is now pointing toward Higher prices over the next 30 days.

Plate Lead Times: 4-8 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

Brett Linton is a senior analyst for Steel Market Update, where he began his career. Linton has been in the steel industry since 2010. He has held roles as a category manager and strategic insights director at Reibus before returning to SMU in 2024. He is a graduate of The University of North Georgia with a degree in Finance and Accounting. Brett can be reached at brett@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-314-0179.