Steel plate prices in the United States have held steady, with mills floating the idea of issuing price increases in an effort to kick-start forward buying.
Market participants reported that some plate producers have discussed the idea of issuing hikes but may hold off and let sheet mills attempt a foray first. Others said the economic impact of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak would stifle any contemplation of price increases for the time being.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel cut-to-length plate carbon grade, fob mill US was unchanged at $31 per hundredweight ($620 per short ton) on Friday February 21. So far in 2020, the price has been flat in seven of the eight assessments after starting the year at $32 per cwt.
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