Following up on strong monthly scrap prices observed since the beginning of 2025, the expectation for April scrap pricing is seen steady to down, as supply from sub-collectors is reported to be building, market insiders told SteelOrbis this week. Recent gains in scrap prices could also be moderating as finished steel pricing, namely flat steel, appears to have peaked.
“There’s plenty of material available now at these prices,” said one Midwest mill scrap buyer. “We’re seeing April down slightly.”
“We see the April market down quite possibly,” remarked another scrap market insider. “Tube City in Pittsburgh has dropped (its offer) by $10/gt,” he said. “Exporters are going to be dropping their prices as well.”
“It’s basis supply and demand,” remarked still another Midwest scrap broker. “As supply increases with higher recent prices paid to collectors, we’re hearing the April market sideways to down a bit.”
At the conclusion of the March buy-cycle, prime grades of March busheling scrap in the US Ohio Valley settled $30/gt ($30/mt) higher to $485-510/gt ($493-518/mt) delivered to mill, while shredded grades settled an average $25/gt ($25/mt) up at $455-460/gt ($462-467/mt) on a delivered basis. HMS and P&S grades showed a $20/gt ($20/mt) rise from February settles at $395-415/gt ($401-422/mt), and $441-451/gt ($448-458/mt, respectively, on a delivered to mill basis.
In the US Northeast, monthly scrap price expectations, which started the March buy-cycle period as high as $35/gt ($36/mt) premiums across all grades, moderated towards the plus-$20/gt level on a delivered basis as more supply became available from sub-collectors amid rising supplier offers at local yards and warmer weather-inspired inflows, insiders said. Better price expectations in Midwest markets also were said to have diverted a portion of that East Coast scrap away from local markets.
Some scrap insiders said this week’s moderation of recent flat steel price increases could be contributing to the expectation for lower April scrap pricing. On March 17, steel maker Nucor announced its Consumer Spot Price (CSP) for hot rolled coils would increase by $15/nt ($17/mt), off from a $40/nt ($44/mt) increase one week earlier. Insiders say despite 25 percent import tariffs, rising domestic finished steel prices could make limited imports of the material more competitive. Starting on March 14 and the days thereafter, steel maker Nucor as well as other domestic mills raised their posted prices for wire rod for April delivery by $50/nt ($55/mt), while leaving rebar pricing unchanged as those supplies appear to be more than adequate given continued low reported demand from the construction and manufacturing sectors ahead of the start of the spring construction season in the US.