Steel Products Prices North America
October 24, 2017
Steel Buyers Mull How High Prices Can Go
Written by John Packard
Steel Market Update (SMU) found steel buyers receptive to speaking their minds on how various steel mills are responding to the price increase announcements made last week. It appears mills with shorter lead times are perhaps a little more receptive to waiving part or all of the increases. Other mills have better order books and have taken a firmer approach with their customers. In the article below, we give steel buyers an opportunity to express their opinions about where they see prices heading in the weeks and months ahead.
We found those involved with the HVAC mechanical contractor markets as having some of the lowest prices and most flexible suppliers. One wholesaler told us this morning that he was able to buy galvanized steel at lower prices last week. When asked if he was a buyer at the “new prices,” the wholesaler told us, “Yes, because they went down, not up, and our inventory was getting to a point at which we would be forced to buy.”
