[ferro-alloys.com]California Steel Industries and USS-Posco Industries separately announced $40/st price increases for flat-rolled products late Monday.

The two West Coast producers are the first US mills to attempt a price increase in 2019 amid an ongoing slide in prices that began in July 2018.

The two companies announced $40/st increases for all their flat-rolled product offerings, including hot-rolled and cold-rolled coil plus galvanized sheet products.

CSI cited changing market conditions as its reason while UPI only said the increase would be effective immediately and it reserves the right to review and requote any outstanding offers that have not been confirmed.

Discussions surrounding the possibility of attempted price increases by mills intensified toward the end of last week.

Many in the market were anticipating a move by Nucor by the end of business on Friday or early this week.

No increase by the steelmaker had been made official as of Monday morning.

There was still skepticism an announcement would generate enough buying interest east of the Rockies to be successful at raising prices, but may be able to end the six-month decline.

Mills attempted a similar move in October with $40/st increases that were unsuccessful. Since those attempts, HRC prices have fallen by more than $130/st.

On Friday, the daily Platts TSI US HRC assessment fell $1/st to $700/st, while the daily Platts TSI US CRC assessment declined 25 cents to $798/st.

(S&P Global Platts)

• [Editor:王可]