Diverging Trends in Steel Plate Pricing Reflect Economic Variances in US & Germany

Oct 22, 2024

The Steel Plate market continues to demonstrate varied patterns across major regions, with the US market showing downward pressure while European markets maintain stability. Recent developments in both production capabilities and market dynamics are shaping the Steel Plate sector's near-term outlook.

During the second week of October, the US Steel Plate spot market experienced a decline of 0.6%, followed by an additional 0.5% decrease in the third week. Meanwhile, the German Steel Plate market maintained steady prices, reflecting regional variations in market fundamentals. These price movements highlight the divergent paths of Steel Plate markets in different regions, influenced by local demand-supply dynamics and industrial activities.

In the United States, Nucor's strategic decisions have significantly influenced the Steel Plate market landscape. While the company has kept its plate prices unchanged for November bookings, other domestic mills are offering more competitive rates, with smaller regional players aligning their Steel Plate prices closer to import levels. The market has reached its lowest levels since early 2021, marking a significant decline from previous geopolitical event-driven highs. Notably, Nucor Corp. has initiated a major upgrade at its Tuscaloosa, Alabama plate mill, partnering with SMS group to transform the existing Steckel mill into an advanced tandem Steckel mill, aimed at enhancing production capacity and capabilities for high-strength thin strip products.

Recent AISI data provides crucial insights into the broader steel industry's performance. For the week ending October 12, domestic raw steel production reached 1,620,000 short tons, showing a modest 0.9% increase from the previous week's 20-month low. The mill capability utilization rate improved slightly to 72.9%, up from 72.3% the previous week. Year-to-date production totalled 69,438,000 short tons at a 76.5% capability utilization rate, marking a 1.7% decrease from the same period last year.

The European Steel Plate market, particularly in Germany, presents a more stable picture as of October 17th, though facing its own set of challenges. The market is characterized by weak demand from key sectors such as automotive and construction, leading to a pessimistic outlook. European Steel Plate mills are struggling to generate interest amid buyer wariness towards price hikes, with inventory levels already filled for the quarter. Import activities remain sluggish due to quotas and anti-dumping investigations.

As per ChemAnalyst, the Steel Plate market is expected to face continued pressure in the US through the remainder of 2024, with potential stabilization in early 2025. The analyst anticipates that European Steel Plate prices might find support from reduced import competition, though demand concerns persist. The success of Nucor's mill upgrades and its impact on market dynamics will be closely watched, potentially influencing both regional and global Steel Plate market trends.