April North American Steel Market Analysis and May Forecast

The North American flat steel market continued to show a pattern of differentiation this month, with different varieties rising and falling. At the end of April, the price of hot rolled steel coil in Midwest steel mills dropped 4 dollars to 760 dollars from last month, while the price of cold rolled steel sheet rose 11 dollars to 926 dollars from last month. Galvanized sheet was flat with last month, stabilizing at $926. Heavy steel plates prices fell significantly, down 33 dollars from last month to $1014.

U.S. steel trade protection policy once pushed the price of U.S. steel to a new high in global history. Excessive price will inevitably usher in adjustment. At present, U.S. steel price is short of demand promotion. It is expected that the price of flat steel in May will be adjusted steadily.