Steel plate prices inch up but Jan. uncertain

Dec 06, 2012 | 04:01 PM | Chris Prentice

Tags  steel plate, carbon plate, discrete plate, steel distributors, Chris Prentice

NEW YORK — Domestic steel plate prices have started to inch up, but with orders slow this month, market sources said it remains to be seen where January prices will settle.

Steel buyers said that quotes for material for delivery in the new year are higher now that many mills’ lead times have pushed out into mid-January. But they said steel buyers looking for material right now are buying small tons for December arrival.

"The market’s just not there yet," one mill source told AMM, noting that many consumers were booking smaller tonnages of products, including A36 carbon plate. These volumes have been placed largely to meet specific orders rather than to build inventories, most service center sources said.....





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