Steel Products Prices North America
May 1, 2018
SMU Price Ranges & Indices: More-or-Less Balanced
Written by John Packard
Flat rolled and plate steel prices continue to show signs of stability as the market absorbs the most recent decision on Section 232 exclusions (countries) and awaits decisions about individual product exclusions. Steel Market Update continues to reference our SMU Price Momentum Indicator as being at Neutral, but I want to warn our readers that the next price move is not fully understood as there are many “Gray Swans” flying about… For now, we believe steel prices are holding at where we have seen prices over the past few weeks.
A general manager of a large flat rolled steel service center told SMU this morning, “The market currently is stable as it takes a breather from the frenetic pace from November to mid-April. Because lead-times are well into summer and because we’ve experienced higher amounts of imports having recently arrived, or arriving now, things are more-or-less balanced.”
