Nucor raises hot-rolled coil prices for sixth consecutive week

American steel producer Nucor has raised its spot price for hot-rolled coil (HRC) for the sixth week in a row.

On December 1, the company announced a $5 per short ton increase in its weekly spot price for HRC, bringing it to $920/t. Thus, the total increase over six weeks amounted to $45/t.

At the same time, Nucor’s joint venture on the West Coast, California Steel Industries (CSI), increased its HRC price to $970/mt, which is $5/mt more than the previous week.

Spot order delivery times remain at 3-5 weeks, the company said.

As of November 25, the average price for hot-rolled coil in the United States, according to SMU estimates, was $870 per short ton FOB, an increase of $10/t from the previous week.

It should be recalled that since the beginning of November, the global hot-rolled coil market has shown a predominantly upward trend. The EU and the US saw price increases amid more stable demand and reduced supply, while China, on the contrary, remained under pressure from seasonal decline and competition in export markets.

As for Europe, prices in the region are expected to strengthen moderately by the end of the year, within the range of €10–20/t, mainly due to negotiations with the automotive industry and the gradual depletion of import stocks. However, without an improvement in final demand, no significant increase in HRC prices is forecast yet.

In the US, prices are likely to remain close to current levels until the end of 2025, fluctuating within the range of $10–20/t. Further dynamics will depend on whether producers manage to maintain supply discipline in early 2026.