Plate prices in the United States have held their ground over the past week, with industry participants still wondering whether the market has peaked or could see further upside in 2019.
Fastmarkets AMM's price assessment for cut-to-length plate was unchanged at $49.50 per hundredweight ($990 per short ton) on Friday November 16.Lead times average six to nine weeks, according to market participants.Deals of as low as approximately $47 per cwt were reported to Fastmarkets for material slated to be produced before the end of this year. Offers for 2019 were seen as high as $51 per cwt, sources said.Plate prices are expected to continue to move higher while lead times stretch into next year and $2-per-cwt price...