INTELLIGENCE REPORT

HRC Steel Intelligence Report

June 23, 2026 · Intelligence Report · HRC Steel (CME HRC=F / SHFE)

CME HRC=F settled at $1,120/st on June 23, holding near recent highs as domestic mills sustain weekly price increases in a supply-constrained market. Nucor's spot at $1,125/st and CSI at $1,175/st reflect mill pricing power supported by 50% Section 232 tariffs and US capacity utilization at 81.1%. The impending EU safeguard overhaul on July 1 — cutting duty-free quotas to 18.3 Mt and doubling out-of-quota duties to 50% — represents the next major catalyst for Western steel markets. Global overcapacity at 640 Mt persists as the structural constraint: Chinese output fell 3.9% in early 2026 but remains elevated, with exports redirecting to markets without tariff protection. Morgan Stanley forecasts HRC to average $1,112/st for 2026 but decline to $900/st by 2028 as supply and imports rebalance.

BUYER: DEFENSIVE
CME HRC=F
$1,120/st
unchanged vs Jun 22
SHFE HRC
CNY 3,473/mt
-0.3% vs Jun 22
YTD Change
+18.9%
CME Jan-Jun avg $944-$1,123
52W Range
$807-$1,123/st
near top of range
Data: CME HRC=F $1,120/st · SHFE HRC CNY 3,473/mt · YTD +18.9% · 52W $807-$1,123/st · 13 FACT | 11 ESTIMATE
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Data from Rzzro commodity pipeline and third-party research sources. Updated June 23, 2026.