American steel producer Nucor has raised its spot consumer price (CSP) for hot-rolled coil (HRC) by $15 per short ton compared to the previous week. This is stated in a letter to customers dated March 2.
Thus, the current price is $1,005/t. On February 23, Nucor announced a $15 per short ton increase in CSP, following five consecutive announcements of a $5/t price increase.
The spot consumer price for the West Coast joint venture, California Steel Industries (CSI), also increased by $15/t, with the new price now at $1,055 per short ton.
Order fulfillment times remain at 3-5 weeks.
According to SMU, as of February 24, the average spot price for HRC on the US market, on FOB (east of the Rockies) terms, was $980 per short ton, which is $5/t higher than the previous week’s estimate.
At the same time, according to Kallanish estimates, as of February 26, the spot price for hot-rolled coil in the US rose to a new range of $975-990 per short ton, compared to $965-975 a week earlier.
It should be noted that in February 2026, the global market for hot-rolled coil continued the upward trend that began in January. Offers in Europe have risen by €25–45/t since the beginning of the year, and in the US by $50/t. China lagged behind the trend, with an increase of only $2/t. It was expected that accumulated stocks at service centers and seasonal factors would create a risk of stagnation or correction for the US market in the second quarter.
