U.S. steel producer Nucor has raised its spot consumer price (CSP) for hot-rolled coil (HRC) by $5 per short ton compared to the previous week. This was announced in a letter from the company to its customers dated April 6.
The new offer price is $1,040/short ton. The spot consumer price for Nucor’s West Coast joint venture, California Steel Industries (CSI), also rose by $15, with the new price set at $1,090 per short ton.
Delivery times for all spot orders remain at 3–5 weeks.
Nucor has raised its offer price for 12 consecutive weeks. The company began 2026 with a price of $950/ton for hot-rolled steel,
As SMU notes, the strategy of slow but steady price increases differs from the practice of previous years, when steelmakers, including Nucor, announced sharp increases—of $100 per short ton or more—when there was certainty regarding favorable market conditions for doing so.
In addition, two major U.S. flat steel producers—SSAB Americas and Nucor—have announced plans to raise prices for flat steel.
SSAB Americas sent a letter to its customers on April 6. The price increase will apply to all new spot orders with confirmed shipment dates on or after May 31. The announcement also states that surcharges, including regional freight surcharges, will be applied.
Nucor, for its part, also announced plans to raise prices for flat steel by at least $60 per short ton. Additionally, starting May 1, the company will introduce a fuel surcharge (FSC) on all shipments. The steel producer called this step necessary to offset rising fuel and logistics costs.
As a reminder, global prices for hot-rolled coil rose in most key regions in March 2026—by 1–6% month-over-month. By the end of the first quarter, the market showed a noticeable recovery: current offers exceed late-2025 levels by 3–15%. At the same time, the weakest dynamics, as before, were recorded in China. In the U.S. market, the upward trend is likely to continue in the short term, although the market may enter a phase of slower growth if buyers begin to react more cautiously to new price hikes.
