Steel Products Prices North America
January 18, 2018
Hot Rolled Prices Tick Higher as Mills Stingy on Negotiations
Written by John Packard
Steel buyers recognize that flat rolled prices are moving higher and momentum is clearly on the side of the steel mills. Hot rolled price offers, which Steel Market Update identified earlier this week as being $650 to $710, have moved higher based on information gleaned from steel buyers today. The new spread is $680 to $710 per ton with an average of $695 per ton.
As we moved from steel buyer to steel buyer around the country, we were told by many that they had not purchased any hot rolled in the spot market lately, but the offers from most of the mills were $700 to $720 per ton ($35.00/cwt-$36.00/cwt). When we did find steel buyers who placed orders this week, we learned they were placed at $680 to $710 per ton. The hot rolled steel buyers who placed orders last week were reporting $650 to $710 per ton (average $680 per ton).
