Nucor raises prices for hot rolled coil for the first time in 10 weeks

The American steel company Nucor has announced an increase in the weekly spot price (CSP) for hot rolled coil (HRC). Offers for the week of June 9-15, 2025 increased by 2.3% or $20/t compared to the previous week to $890 per short tonne for all production facilities, except California Steel Industries (CSI), where the price is $950/t (+3.3%).

Supply increased for the first time in 10 weeks. In May, prices recorded a decline of $60-70/tonne, while in April there was a predominant stabilization. Thus, the highest price since the beginning of the year was reached on March 24 – $935/t ($995/t for CSI) – and lasted until April 13. Despite the spring stagnation, Nucor’s HRC offers remain $140/mt higher than in early January.

The lead time for orders is estimated at 3-5 weeks.

According to SMU, last week, HRC prices in the US ranged from $870-910/mt FOB. Kallanish notes that hot-rolled coil was trading in the range of $870-900/t.

In May, the US HRC market experienced a sharp decline: the average price decreased by 7.1% m/m to $885/t ex-works. The key factor was a combination of weak final demand, lower scrap prices and sluggish business activity after the panic buying period in March-April. Despite some signals of a possible pickup in purchases in June, most market participants expect a further gradual decline in prices in the summer.

As GMK Center reported earlier, the US-based Cleveland-Cliffs announced the opening of its June order book for hot rolled coil (HRC) at a reduced price of $910/t. The new price is a significant reduction compared to the May offer of $975/t. Thus, the price of HRC fell by $65/t or almost 7%, reflecting changes in market conditions.