The previously anticipated HSS price increase announcement has finally emerged, but many within the market say they’re not sure if it will stick. Hannah Steel Corporation, EXLTUBE, Atlas Tube, and others this week have announced an immediate price hike of $3.75 cwt. ($83/mt or $75/nt), however, as of time of publication, Nucor has not yet announced.
“Atlas came out first and everyone has followed but Nucor, and they’re still undecided,” a source said.
Another source said that while the increase has been pushed out, its sticking power is unclear.
“We’re still seeing job quotes from some of the mills at discounted numbers,” sources say, with prices anywhere between $117.50-$120.50 ($2,590-$2,657/mt or $2,350-$2,410/nt), delivered into the Southeast, “depending on who you are, and which mill you’re talking to.” Sources add that if Nucor doesn’t announce, “the whole thing will fall apart.”