Last week, both US Steel and AK Steel rolled out a $1.00 cwt. ($22/mt or $20/nt) price increase for flats products, effective with all new orders; whether it will actually be absorbed, or if it was merely an attempt to prevent further price erosion across product lines, has yet to be seen. The most commonly reported spot price transaction range for base-price HDG has not wavered as of yet, and remains in the approximate range of $35.50-$37.50 cwt. ($783-$827/mt or $710-$750/nt), ex-Midwest mill.
“It’s pretty much the same story, different day,” according to one Midwest-based service center. Scrap prices are falling, HRC prices are still flexible and supply continues to outpace demand, which leaves little incentive for customers to pay more for HDG.
| Cwt. | Metric Ton (mt) | Net ton (nt) | Change from last week | |
| US domestic HDG base price | $35.50-$37.50 | $783-$827 | $710-$750 | neutral |
| 0.012”x40.875” G30 | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $44.00-$46.00 | $970-$1,014 | $880-$920 | neutral |
| 0.019”x48” G90 | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $45.50-$46.50 | $1,003-$1,025 | $910-$930 | neutral |
| US domestic Galvalume base price | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $36.00-$38.00 | $794-$838 | $720-$760 | neutral |
| 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $44.00-$46.00 | $970-$1,014 | $880-$920 | neutral, but flexible |