Steel Products Prices North America
March 20, 2018
SMU Price Ranges & Indices: The March Higher Continues
Written by John Packard
Flat rolled steel prices continue to March higher and are expected to continue to do so for weeks, if not months, due to the Section 232 tariffs on foreign steel and the tightening of supply. Most domestic steel mills are operating on an inquire or controlled order entry basis. Mills like California Steel and NLMK USA are caught in the 232 trap as semi-finished steels (slabs), which are only bought by domestic steel mills, were included in the 232 tariffs. In many cases, the prices referenced below do not fully appreciate the strength of the high end of the pricing markets. We are seeing price offers at, or above, the high end of the range listed in this week’s pricing. (We just haven’t confirmed actual orders being placed at those numbers from the sources we rely upon).
Here is how we see prices this week:
