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HRB prices up in the U.S., down elsewhere

The bi-monthly SteelBenchmarker™ U.S. HRB spot price for July 23rd rose 2.1 percent to $683 per metric ton, FOB the mill, after falling seven times. The Western European HRB price fell 1.3 percent to $614 per ton (on a Euro basis, it rose 0.2 percent), ex-works, for the sixth consecutive decrease. The World export HRB price fell 1.7 percent to $588 per ton, FOB the port of export, after rising last time. The Chinese HRB ex-works price collapsed 6.9 percent to $498 per ton, down for the sixth consecutive time.

The four benchmark prices for HRB for July 23, 2012 are:

  • U.S.—$683 per metric ton ($620 per net ton), FOB the mill—up $14 per ton from $669 ($607 net) two weeks ago, but down $26 per ton from the recent low of $709 ($643 net) on Nov. 14, 2011. It is down $287 per ton from the recent high of $970 ($880 net) on March 28, 2011 and down $520 (43.2 percent) per ton from the record peak of $1,203 ($1,091 net) on July 28, 2008.
  • China—$498 per metric ton, ex-works—down $37 per ton from $535 two weeks ago and up $16 per ton from the recent low of $482 on July 12, 2010. It is down $139 per ton from the recent high of $637 on August 22, 2011 and down $235 (32.1 percent) from the record peak of $733 on July 14, 2008.
  • Western Europe—$614 (€507) per metric ton, ex-works—down $8 per ton from $622 (€506) two weeks ago (on a Euro basis, it was up €1), and down $54 (up €13) from the recent low of $668 (€494) on Nov. 22, 2010. It is down $238 (€98) from the recent high of $852 (€605) on March 28, 2011 and down $590 (€249) (49.0 percent) per ton from the record peak of $1,204 €756) on July 14, 2008.
  • World Export Price—$588 per metric ton, FOB the port of export—down $10 per ton from $598 two weeks ago and down $24 per ton from the recent low of $612 on Nov. 28, 2011. It is down $185 per ton from the recent high of $773 on Feb. 28, 2011 and down $525 (47.2 percent) per ton from the record peak of $1,113 on July 28, 2008.

SteelBenchmarker™ publishes steel benchmark prices for hot-rolled band, cold-rolled coil, rebar and standard plate in the following regions: the U.S., Western Europe, and the world export market. Additionally, there are benchmark prices for steel scrap in the U.S.