Steel Products Prices North America
February 21, 2017
SMU Price Ranges & Indices: Still Deals Being Made...
Written by John Packard
We had three price announcements and at least one verbal announcement on flat rolled steel since the week began. Everyone is wondering if the other steel mills will follow and what will the base prices be when the dust settles? Based on what we have been hearing from steel buyers today, the suggested minimum base prices ArcelorMittal USA made in January might be the new goal for the latest announcements. ArcelorMittal, at that time, recommended minimum base prices on hot rolled of $640 per ton ($32.00/cwt) and $850 per ton ($42.50/cwt) on cold rolled and coated. So, the latest price increase announcements may be more about ending the slide and moving the needle back to in the favor of the steel mills.
In the meantime, we still have Big River Steel being aggressive on hot rolled. One of the buyers we spoke with today told us about his suppliers, “…by the way, with the exception of coated products, there are deals still being made.”
