US domestic
plate mills last week rolled out a round of $1.50 cwt. ($27/mt or $25/nt) price increase announcement letters, but the notice has done little to kick start the market. The most commonly reported ex-mill spot price transaction range for US domestic, 96” wide A36 carbon steel
plate continues to hold at approximately $32.00-$33.00 cwt. ($706-$728/mt or $640-$660/nt) ex-Midwest mill. The low-ball offers and deals below that range seem to be gone, according to SteelOrbis sources. On the other hand, that’s not to say that some distribution centers aren’t dumping high-priced inventory. Sources have confirmed that they’ve received offers for in-stock US domestic, 96” wide A36 carbon steel
plate at ranges up to $4.00 cwt ($88/mt or $80/nt) below the ex-mill price.
In terms of offshore futures prices, sources close to SteelOrbis have reported seeing offers from South African mills at “slightly below” the $25.00-$26.00 cwt. ($551-$573/mt or $500-$520/nt), DDP loaded truck US Gulf coast ports, and it’s rumored that Brazilian
plate producers are open to matching that price.