Nucor raised its consumer spot price for hot-rolled coil by USD 10 per short ton in a customer letter dated 18 May 2026, bringing the headline offer to USD 1,090 per short ton.
Its West Coast joint venture California Steel Industries lifted to USD 1,140 per short ton. Delivery lead times held at 3 to 5 weeks. The rally reflects the protective effect of US Section 232 tariffs at 50 percent, depressed imports, and tight supply.
April 2026 US ex-works hot-rolled coil offers hit USD 1,163 per ton, the highest since early 2024.
Why it matters for green steel: Sustained hot-rolled coil above USD 1,000/t narrows the green-steel premium spread; Nucor is the largest US EAF producer, and rising headline prices improve the commercial proposition for its low-embodied-carbon Econiq™ product line.