Service Centers in Early Stages of Discounting Spot Steel Prices

Steel Market Update (SMU) watches the flat rolled steel service centers very closely for signs of strength or weakness. These signs come in the form of discounting spot prices to their customers (or to each other). As markets weaken and the steel mills become more aggressive in their negotiations with the distributors, the service centers tend to react by attempting to limit their exposure to what they perceive to be high-priced steel inventories.

Right now, the market spot price cycle appears to be similar to what we saw at the end of the “up” pricing cycle in late 2nd Quarter 2016. The price increase announcements stopped and prices began flattening out and then moving lower. In the graphic below, the service centers are just beginning to break ranks and begin lowering spot prices to their flat rolled steel customers. The ovals above the bars represent steel mill price increase announcements as reported by AK Steel. We use AK Steel as their increase announcements are part of their press release files on their website (so anyone can go look at the announcements). The last price announcement was made in early January 2017.