Exclusive Nucor raised prices for hot-rolled coil to $960/t

This is the first adjustment to proposals since the beginning of the year

American steel company Nucor has raised its weekly spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled coil (HRC) to $960 per short ton, which is $10/ton higher than a week earlier. This is stated in the company’s official announcement.

The current adjustment was the first increase since the beginning of the year, which may indicate a gradual recovery in price dynamics in the US domestic steel market.

In a letter to customers, Nucor also reported that the spot price for its West Coast joint venture, California Steel Industries (CSI), rose by $10/t to $1,010 per short ton.

At the same time, the company noted that order fulfillment times remain stable at 3 to 5 weeks, indicating no significant supply shortage in the market despite the price increase.

According to SMU, the average spot price for HRC on the US market, on FOB terms (east of the Rockies), as of January 13 was $935 per short ton, which is $5/t more than the previous estimate. This confirms a cautious but positive price trend in the region.

It should be recalled that during November-December 2025, Nucor raised prices for hot-rolled coil by $75/t. The series of increases lasted for nine consecutive weeks.

Overall, the global hot-rolled coil market was under pressure in 2025. Despite the upward trend at the end of the year, average annual prices for products fell by 5–12%. The exception is the US, where the indicator rose by an average of 11.1% over the year.