Category: Prices

Ferrous scrap prices increased from November to December, according to Steel Market Update sources, breaking the seven-month cycle of price declines. Buyers reported prime scrap prices increased roughly $30 per gross ton, while shredded prices rose $20 per ton. “Scrap prices are up a minimum $20-30 per ton this month,” reported one scrap executive. He […] The post Scrap Prices Rise in December, Higher Expectations for January appeared first on Steel Market Update.

After surging in late November to a five-month high, Steel Market Update’s (SMU) Steel Buyers Sentiment Index slipped three points through Dec. 8th. Our Future Buyers Sentiment Index also fell a few points from it’s previous high, down three points in comparison to two weeks prior. Buyers Sentiment remains strong overall, and Current Sentiment is […] The post SMU Sentiment Index Dips From 5-Month High, But Remains Strong appeared first on Steel Market Update.

The following article on the hot-rolled coil (HRC), scrap and financial futures markets was written by Jack Marshall of Crunch Risk LLC. Here is how Jack saw trading over the past week: Hot Rolled Over the last month, HR index prices have continued to decline, but at a much slower pace. The most recent index […] The post HR Futures in Limbo as Risk Managers Await More Data Points appeared first on Steel Market Update.

Steel mill lead times extended across the board this week, with production times increasing for all five products we track. Recall that lead times for hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and galvanized products were previously at or near multi-year lows in our late November market check. Lead times are up by an average of 0.5 weeks compared to […] The post Steel Mill Lead Times Change Direction, Extend Modestly appeared first on Steel Market Update.

Turkish scrap import prices increase w/w Turkish scrap prices started to increase significantly last week. Accordingly, our assessment for HMS 1/2 80:20 rose to $374 /t CFR based on two new deals, up by $35 /t w/w and $26 /t m/m. Scrap sellers have been raising prices amid tighter supply into winter months, and buyers […]

Is the market at a bottom or not? Cleveland-Cliffs and US Steel have each announced price hikes of $60 per ton ($3 per cwt). And we’re told other mills might follow. If this isn’t a bottom, it sure looks like domestic mills are trying to create one with a floor of ~$600 per ton for […] The post Final Thoughts appeared first on Steel Market Update.

Turkish scrap import prices unchanged w/w The Turkish scrap market was again inactive last week as our assessment remained unchanged at $339 /t CFR for HMS 1/2 80:20 (+$0 /t w/w, -$33 /t m/m) due to a lack of new deals. Scrap prices(1) $/t28-Oct04-Nov11-Nov18-Nov25-NovHMS 1/2 80:20 CFR Turkey372348350339339Shredded CFR Turkey392368370359359Notes: (1) weighted average of known transactions […]

SMU’s sheet prices slipped again this week. But some market participants predicted that sheet was at or near a bottom. The anticipation of that bottom appeared to pull some big buyers off the sidelines. Large purchases from some pulled the low end of our hot-rolled coil range below $600 per ton ($30 per cwt) and […] The post SMU Price Ranges: Big Buyers Jump in Hoping for Floor appeared first on Steel Market Update.

Turkish scrap import prices decreased w/w Last week, Turkish scrap prices dropped on a deal from the USA. Our assessment fell to $339 /t CFR for HMS 1/2 80:20, down by $11 /t w/w and $33 /t m/m. The downward movement in the scrap market is mainly due to the stagnant state of the finished […]

The spread between hot-rolled coil (HRC) and prime scrap prices has begun to narrow again after three months of stability, according to recent Steel Market Update data. Prices for both products continue to move lower, as they have most weeks since May. The latest HRC-prime spread is exactly one-fourth of what it was this time […] The post Hot Rolled vs Prime Scrap Spread at 26-Month Low appeared first on Steel Market Update.