SMU price ranges: Sheet and plate slip as market chugs along - Steel Market Update

Oct 23, 2024

Steel Prices

Written by Brett Linton

October 22, 2024

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Steel prices ticked lower again this week for most of the products SMU tracks. Our indices have declined as much as $40 per short ton (st) across the last four weeks.

Sheet prices are now at or near some of the lowest levels observed since August. Plate prices continue to slowly recede from their mid-2022 peak. They declined this week for the fourth consecutive week.

Buyers see no strong indications that the market will move upward in the near future, especially with the election and holidays right around the corner. As previously reported, mill lead times remain short, and the majority of buyers say mills are willing to talk price on new orders.

In light of this, SMU’s sheet price momentum indicator has been adjusted from Neutral to Lower this week. Prior to this week, sheet momentum had been at Neutral for six weeks. Recall that sheet momentum was previously at Lower earlier this year between May 7 and July 29. Our plate price momentum indicator remains at Lower, as it has been for nearly six months.

SMU’s hot-rolled steel index declined by $5/st w/w to $685/st this week, while cold rolled slipped $15/st to $925/st. Our galvanized index eased $20/st w/w to $880/st, while Galvalume held steady at $920/st. Plate prices fell $5 w/w to $910/st – a low not seen in more than three and a half years.

The SMU price range is $650-720/st, averaging $685/st FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range is down $10/st w/w, while the top end is unchanged w/w. Our overall average is down $5/st w/w. Our price momentum indicator for hot-rolled steel has been adjusted to lower, meaning we expect prices to decline over the next 30 days.

Hot rolled lead times range from 3-7 weeks, averaging 5.0 weeks as of our Oct. 9 market survey. We will publish updated lead times this Thursday.

The SMU price range is $880–970/st, averaging $925/st FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range is down $20/st w/w, while the top end is down $10/st w/w. Our overall average is down $15/st w/w. Our price momentum indicator for cold-rolled steel has been adjusted to lower, meaning we expect prices to decline over the next 30 days.

Cold rolled lead times range from 4-9 weeks, averaging 6.9 weeks through our latest survey.

The SMU price range is $840–920/st, averaging $880/st FOB mill, east of the Rockies. The lower end of our range is down $40/st w/w, while the top end is unchanged w/w. Our overall average is down $20/st w/w. Our price momentum indicator for galvanized steel has been adjusted to lower, meaning we expect prices to decline over the next 30 days.

Galvanized .060” G90 benchmark: SMU price range is $937–1,017/st, averaging $977/st FOB mill, east of the Rockies.

Galvanized lead times range from 5-10 weeks, averaging 7.1 weeks through our latest survey.

The SMU price range is $880–960/st, averaging $920/st FOB mill, east of the Rockies. Our range is unchanged w/w. Our price momentum indicator for Galvalume steel has been adjusted to lower, meaning we expect prices to decline over the next 30 days.

Galvalume .0142” AZ50, grade 80 benchmark: SMU price range is $1,174–1,254/st, averaging $1,214/st FOB mill, east of the Rockies.

Galvalume lead times range from 6-9 weeks, averaging 7.5 weeks through our latest survey.

The SMU price range is $820–1,000/st, averaging $910/st FOB mill. The lower end of our range is down $40/st w/w, while the top end is up $30/st w/w. Our overall average is down $5/st w/w. Our price momentum indicator for plate remains at lower, meaning we expect prices to decline over the next 30 days.

Plate lead times range from 2-6 weeks, averaging 4.2 weeks through our latest survey.

SMU note: Above is a graphic showing our hot rolled, cold rolled, galvanized, Galvalume, and plate price history. This data is also available here on our website with our interactive pricing tool. If you need help navigating the website or need to know your login information, contact us at [email protected].

Brett Linton is a senior analyst for Steel Market Update, where he began his career. Linton has been in the steel industry since 2010. He has held roles as a category manager and strategic insights director at Reibus before returning to SMU in 2024. He is a graduate of The University of North Georgia with a degree in Finance and Accounting. Brett can be reached at [email protected] or 724-314-0179.

The price spread between US-produced cold-rolled (CR) coil and offshore products was negligibly wider in the week ended Oct. 18, on a landed basis.

The price spread between hot-rolled coil (HRC) and prime scrap narrowed marginally in October, according to SMU’s most recent pricing data.

After a relatively stable and boring September, CME hot-rolled coil (HRC) futures have been on the move lower thus far in October. Since Sept. 30, the November and December futures have declined $63 and $65, respectively, with the curve’s contango steepening.

US hot-rolled (HR) coil prices slipped again this past week, mirroring movement in offshore markets. This kept domestic tags marginally higher than imports on a landed basis.