Final Thoughts
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Cliffs Announces $50/ton Sheet Price Hike in Leading Move
Written by Michael Cowden
December 13, 2022
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. aims to increase spot market base prices for flat-rolled steel by at least $50 per ton ($2.50 per cwt) effectively immediately.
The steelmaker announced the price hike, a leading move, in a press release on Tuesday, Dec. 13. The increase applies equally to hot-rolled, cold-rolled and coated products.
The company noted that the hike would bring its minimum base price for hot-rolled coil to $750 per ton.
“This additional price increase is in response to market feedback following the company’s November price increase, as well as improving dynamics in the raw materials and distribution markets,” Cliffs said in the release.
The Cleveland-based flat-rolled steelmaker led a round of $60-per-ton price hikes the week after Thanksgiving.
The current increase come after scrap prices settled higher in December and amid expectations that scrap will be up again in January. It also follows an uptick in sheet lead times.
Market participants had told SMU that mills might roll out another round of price hikes ahead of the holidays because producers felt like momentum was on their side, because costs were inching up, and despite uncertainty around 2023 demand. They also said others were likely to follow Cliffs.
At least one producer already has. NLMK USA announced that it would increase base prices by at least $50 per ton on all products. “Orders not yet received and not yet confirmed are subject to this increase,” the company said in a letter to customers on Tuesday.
By Michael Cowden, Michael@SteelMarketUpdate.com
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Michael Cowden
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Sheet prices didn’t roar back after Labor Day. But steel market news sure came out of the gate strong (or maybe chaotically is the better way to put it). First, the nearly $15-billion proposed sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel exploded into the news. And when I say exploded, I mean that all sides seem to be escalating things now.
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Welcome back from Labor Day, from Steel Summit, and from whatever fun you might have had over the long weekend. Personally, I enjoyed camping with friends and family near Starved Rock. No one starved, there were no major injuries, and we enjoyed the many splendors of Mystical Fire. (Speaking of which, does that have industrial uses? But I digress.)
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I want to say a huge ‘thank you’ from all of us at SMU to all of you (more than 1,500!) who attended Steel Summit this year. We appreciate you taking time out of busy schedules to join us – whether that was up on stage, submitting thoughtful questions, or catching up over a drink and bite to eat. Also, a bit shoutout to everyone at SMU and at CRU who made this event possible. It’s no understatement to say that we have a fantastic team.
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Day one and two of SMU's Steel Summit 2024 are officially in the books. We covered a lot of ground, and the agenda sure did deliver.
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Final thoughts
The big show is just about here. SMU Steel Summit will be getting underway on Monday. Where does the networking begin? I’d say at the airport. So don’t forget your business cards. And it can't hurt to wear a company golf shirt.