US domestic flat rolled steel mills have announced two price increases in the past 30 days; upticks in raw material costs, decreased import arrivals and depleted service center inventory levels have helped push prices upward.
Spot market prices for base-price HDG coil have firmed by an additional $1.00 cwt. ($22/mt or $20/nt) on the top end since our last report a week ago, which brings the current range to $38-$41 cwt. ($838-$904/mt or $760-$820/nt), ex-mill.
In contrast, prices on Nov. 12, before the increases were announced, were recorded at $37-$38 cwt. ($816-$838/mt or $740-$760/nt) ex-mill.
Orders, activity and inquires for the next two weeks are expected to trend very light, sources note, as many have taken time off in advance of the year-end holiday season. It is, however, expected that US flats mills will announce a third price increase after US scrap prices settle in January.
Current prices for US domestic HDG and Galvalume coil are listed in the chart below.
| Cwt. | Metric Ton (mt) | Net ton (nt) | Change from last week | |
| US domestic HDG base price | $38-$41 | $838-$904 | $760-$820 | up $1.00 cwt on the top end |
| 0.012”x40.875” G30 | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $48-$50 | $1058-$1102 | $960-$1000 | up $1.00 cwt. |
| 0.019”x48” G90 | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $48-$50 | $1058-$1102 | $960-$1000 | neutral |
| US domestic Galvalume base price | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $38-$41 | $838-$904 | $760-$820 | up $1.00 cwt on the top end |
| 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $48-$50 | $1058-$1102 | $960-$1000 | up $1.00 cwt. |