Buyers and suppliers of flats in the USA disagree on further pricing policies. Despite a roll back in HRC and CRC prices by $20-40/t and $10-20/t respectively in late April, local buyers are still refraining from active purchases, being afraid of a price decrease in finished products in view of lower scrap costs. In turn, producers remain optimistic and keep their prices at the late-April levels, referring to moderate stocks and limited supply. Market players say most mills are operating at about 70% of capacity.

The current mills’ prices for HRC vary in the range of $772-794/t exw ($700-720/short ton), and those for CRC and HDG – $882-904/t exw ($800-820/short ton) and $945-950/t exw ($857-862/short ton) respectively.

(source: metalexpert-group.com)