Cold-Rolled Steel Products Prices in the United States

U.S. Cold-Rolled Steel Products Import Price per Ton in June 2022

In June 2022, the cold-rolled steel products price per ton stood at $2.1K (CIF, US), growing by 3.3% against the previous month. Over the last five months, it increased at an average monthly rate of +3.7%. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in February 2022 an increase of 14% m-o-m. Over the period under review, average import prices reached the peak figure in June 2022.

Prices varied noticeably by the country of origin: the country with the highest price was Indonesia ($3.6K per ton), while the price for Turkey ($1.2K per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From January 2022 to June 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Thailand (+12.6%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

U.S. Cold-Rolled Steel Products Import Prices by Type

Prices varied noticeably by the product type; the product with the highest price was steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width less than 600mm, cold-rolled ($5.7K per ton), while the price for iron or non-alloy steel; in coils, flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness exceeding 1mm but less than 3mm ($1.4K per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From January 2022 to June 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by iron or non-alloy steel; (not in coils), flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 3mm or more (+9.6%), while the prices for the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

U.S. Cold-Rolled Steel Products Imports

In June 2022, imports of flat-rolled products of iron or steel (not further worked than cold-rolled) into the United States declined slightly to 183K tons, leveling off at the previous month. Overall, imports showed a slight decline. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in March 2022 with an increase of 33% month-to-month. As a result, imports reached the peak of 213K tons. From April 2022 to June 2022, the growth of imports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, cold-rolled steel products imports stood at $391M (IndexBox estimates) in June 2022. The total import value increased at an average monthly rate of +2.5% over the period from January 2022 to June 2022; the trend pattern remained consistent, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations being observed throughout the analyzed period. The growth pace was the most rapid in March 2022 with an increase of 24% m-o-m. As a result, imports reached the peak of $402M. From April 2022 to June 2022, the growth of imports failed to regain momentum.

U.S. Cold-Rolled Steel Products Imports by Type

In June 2022, iron or non-alloy steel; in coils, flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness exceeding 1mm but less than 3mm (39K tons) constituted the largest type of cold-rolled steel products supplied to the United States, accounting for a 36% share of total imports. Moreover, iron or non-alloy steel; in coils, flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness exceeding 1mm but less than 3mm exceeded the figures recorded for the second-largest type, steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness exceeding 1mm but less than 3mm (19K tons), twofold. Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 0.5mm or more but not exceeding 1mm (17K tons) ranked third in terms of total imports with a 16% share.

From January 2022 to June 2022, the average monthly growth rate of the volume of import of iron or non-alloy steel; in coils, flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness exceeding 1mm but less than 3mm amounted to -8.0%. With regard to the other supplied products, the following average monthly rates of growth were recorded: steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness exceeding 1mm but less than 3mm (+5.6% per month) and steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 0.5mm or more but not exceeding 1mm (+9.2% per month).

In value terms, the most traded types of flat-rolled products of iron or steel (not further worked than cold-rolled) in the United States were steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness exceeding 1mm but less than 3mm ($65M), iron or non-alloy steel; in coils, flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness exceeding 1mm but less than 3mm ($55M) and steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 0.5mm or more but not exceeding 1mm ($55M), with a combined 64% share of total imports. Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width less than 600mm, cold-rolled, steel, alloy; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of less than 0.5mm, steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm, steel, alloy, steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled or cold-reduced, of a thickness of 4.75mm or more, iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled, cold-rolled, of a width less than 600mm, containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon, iron or non-alloy steel and iron or non-alloy steel; (not in coils), flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 0.5mm or more but not exceeding 1mm lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 36%.

U.S. Cold-Rolled Steel Products Imports by Country

Canada (49K tons), Mexico (32K tons) and Taiwan (Chinese) (21K tons) were the main suppliers of cold-rolled steel products imports to the United States, with a combined 56% share of total imports. These countries were followed by India, South Korea, Australia, Sweden, Vietnam, Indonesia, Belgium, Thailand and Turkey, which together accounted for a further 34%.

From January 2022 to June 2022, the biggest increases were in Sweden (with a CAGR of +116.8%), while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest cold-rolled steel products suppliers to the United States were Canada ($80M), Mexico ($59M) and Taiwan (Chinese) ($49M), together comprising 48% of total imports. These countries were followed by India, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Australia, Vietnam, Belgium, Thailand and Turkey, which together accounted for a further 35%.

Among the main suppliers, Sweden, with a CAGR of +66.9%, saw the highest growth rate of the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform