Steel Prices
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Cliffs increases sheet prices again, seeks $1,150/ton HRC
Written by David Schollaert
January 3, 2024
Cleveland-Cliffs is now targeting base prices of $1,150 per ton for hot-rolled coil (HRC), according to a press release on Wednesday morning, Jan. 3.
Cliffs said the move was effective immediately on all new orders and that it had also increased tags for cold-rolled and coated products.
The latest move by the Cleveland-based steelmaker represents an increase of $50 per ton from its previous notice on Dec. 6, according to SMU’s steel mill price increase calendar.
SMU’s HRC price stands at $1,045 per ton ($52.25 per cwt) on average, according to our check of the market on Jan. 2. Tags are up $5 per ton from last week and up $400 per ton from a 2023 low of $645 per ton in late September, according to our pricing tool.
The move was in line with what some in the market had told SMU, with another round of mill price hikes expected. The expectation from some is that while a price increase may not succeed, it would at least stabilize prices in the interim.
Time will tell what happens next.
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David Schollaert
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Miller on Raw Materials: Pig iron tags move up, N. Europe scrap imports to US resume
SMU's Stephen Miller provides an update on the raw materials sector.
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SSAB Americas hikes plate price again, this time by $100/ton
SSAB has increased plate prices by a total of $240/st in less than a month. That tally results from the current increase, an increase of $80/st in early February, and another of $60/st in late January, according to SMU’s price announcement calendar.
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NLMK USA said to be seeking $900/st HR and $1,100/st for tandem products
NLMK USA has opened its April order book at new, higher base prices for steel sheet, according to market participants. The steelmaker is seeking at least $900 per short ton (st) for hot-rolled (HR) coil and at least $1,100/st for cold-rolled and coated products, they said.
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U.S. Steel increases sheet prices by at least $50/ton
U.S. Steel has increased prices for flat-rolled steel by at least $50 per short ton (st), according to market participants. The Pittsburgh-based steelmaker now seeks a minimum of $850/st for hot-rolled (HR) coil. And it seeks at least $1,050/st for cold-rolled and coated base prices, they said.