HRB spot steel prices mixed

SteelBenchmarker™reported that the U.S. hot-rolled band (HRB) spot price for April 23 dropped 0.8 percent to $625 per metric ton, FOB the mill after five consecutive rises. The world export HRB price slipped 0.3 percent to $589 per ton, FOB the port of export, for the second consecutive drop. The Chinese HRB ex-works price rose 1.8 percent to $448 per ton, for the second consecutive rise. The Western European HRB price rose 2.1 percent to $691 per ton, ex-works, for the 10th time.

The four benchmark prices for hot-rolled band included in the April 23 report are:

• U.S.—$625 per metric ton, FOB the mill—down $5 per ton from $630 two weeks ago and up $54 per ton from the low of $571 on Jan. 22, 2007, but down $73 per ton from the previous high of $698 on July 24, 2006.
• World Export Price—$589 per metric ton, FOB the port of export—down $2 per ton from $591 two weeks ago, but up $90 per ton from the previous low of $499 on Dec. 11, 2006, and down $21 per ton from the peak of $610 on June 12, 2006.
• Western Europe— $691 per metric ton, ex-works—up $14 per ton from $677 two weeks ago and up $135 per ton from the low of $556 on Nov. 27, 2006, and up $60 per ton from the previous peak of $631 reached on July 24, 2006.
• China— $448 per metric ton, ex-works—up $8 per ton from $440 two weeks ago and up $75 per ton from the low of $373 on July 24, 2006, and down $16 per ton from the high of $464 on June 12, 2006.

Twice each month, SteelBenchmarkerpublishes steel benchmark prices for hot-rolled band, cold-rolled coil, rebar, and standard plate in the U.S., Western Europe, mainland China, and the world export market.