Small sections and merchant bars - U.S. market

Small sections and merchant bars - U.S. market

Scrap made some significant gains this week and it is widely expected that, effective September, a new raw material surcharge will be implemented for merchant bars and small sections. It looks like the surcharge will be significant but merchant bar producers will not be able to pass the whole scrap increase to their customers due to the soft market. Some price increases are expected for September, possibly in the range of $20 - $40 /short tons. Small sections and merchant bars for the week August 1, 2005 are reported as follows: ASTM A36/A6 Angles 2 x 2 x ¼" $24.70 cwt or $544.54/mt Flat Bars 3/16 x 2" $32.40 cwt or $714.30/mt ½ x 4" $24.90 cwt or $548.95/mt Square Bar 1" $26.65 cwt or $587.53/mt Round Bar 1" $26.10 cwt or $575.41/mt Channel 3" x 3.5# $26.65 cwt or $587.53/mt Above prices are ex mill and include an updated $0 cwt. current raw materials surcharge.