Last week, SteelOrbis reported that US HSS prices were trending in the range of $44.50-$45.50 cwt. ($981-$1,003/mt or $890-$910/nt), ex-works. This week, sources close to SteelOrbis have reported that prices have shifted upward by approximately $0.50 cwt. ($11/mt or $10/nt), to $45.00-$46.00 cwt. ($992-$1,014/mt or $900-$920/nt), ex-works, and buyers have said that deals toward the bottom end of that range are “fading fast.”
“Scrap is set to come up again this month, HRC prices are doing better and demand for HSS is still strong,” a source said. “I don’t think the mills are going to have a hard time getting prices up to $46.00 cwt ($1,014/mt or $920/nt), and we expect the tube mills will likely announce another increase before the end of the year.”