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LocateJuly Update on Pricing, Tariffs and Lead Times
I want to update you on steel pricing, tariffs, and our lead times.
As a reminder, CSC buys most of our steel through annual contracts. These contracts lock in volume, but pricing is adjusted quarterly based on what the mills charge and overall market conditions.
Each quarter, we look at how steel prices moved in the previous quarter (with a 30-day lag). From Q1 to Q2, the average price of cold-rolled steel went up by 25.6%. That increase now affects our costs, and starting in July, it drove a 11.75% rise in pail prices.
We’re committed to being transparent and keeping you informed on how pricing changes are determined.
Cold Rolled Pricing Remains Neutral
Cold-rolled coil prices have ticked down just a bit this week. Steel Market Update now puts the range at $1,000 to $1,100 per ton, with the average sitting at $1,050 FOB mill. That’s a $5 drop from last week. Momentum-wise, SMU is still calling it neutral, meaning there’s no clear signal on which way things might head over the next month.
We’ll keep an eye on it and let you know if anything starts to shift in a meaningful way.
Most Steel Buyers Oppose Tariffs
We’ve been hearing a lot about tariffs lately, and while a few steel groups support them, most of the folks actually buying and using steel aren’t on board.
The big takeaway?
Buyers feel that there’s just too much uncertainty. A few think tariffs might help down the road, but right now, they’re raising prices, disrupting supply, and making it difficult to plan long-term.
Great News! Lead Times Are 4 Weeks
We’ve made solid progress on reducing lead times, and we’re now at four weeks across all our plants.
Thanks to increased capacity and steady order flow, we’re shipping most orders faster and more consistently than before. We’ll continue to monitor demand closely, but currently, we’re in a strong position to respond quickly and maintain stable lead times.
For Further Reading:
- Cold Rolled Steel Pricing: https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/2025/07/15/smu-price-ranges-prices-slip-despite-tariffs-as-iffy-demand-weighs-on-market/
- Section 232 Tariff Updates: https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/2025/07/27/final-thoughts-1852/
- Market Impact of US Tariffs: Trump Tariffs: The Economic Impact of the Trump Trade War
Thank you for your continued support. We will be in touch with more details as they become available.
If you have any questions about an upcoming pail order, don’t hesitate to contact your sales manager!
Kindly,
Dan Roether
Vice President of Sales
Jeff Swan
Hey there! My name's Jeff Swan and I'm the Sales and Marketing Specialist at Cleveland Steel Container.
