Steel HRC

Hot-Rolled Coil (HRC) is a flat steel product produced by rolling slabs above recrystallization temperature. It is used in automotive manufacturing, pipelines, structural applications, and as feedstock for cold-rolled and coated products. HRC is the benchmark flat steel product globally.

SAE 1006/1008SS400Q235BA36FOBCFRCIF
Quick Facts

Steel HRC at a Glance

Common Origins
ChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaRussia
Common Destinations
VietnamTurkeyUnited StatesThailandIndonesia
Grades & Specifications
SAE 1006/1008SS400Q235BA36
INCOTERMS
FOBCFRCIF
Unit of Measure
Metric Tons
Price Drivers

What Moves Steel HRC Pricing

Hot-rolled coil prices via Platts/Argus/MEPS regional benchmarks: HRC FOB China, HRC ex-works Northern Europe, HRC FOB Indian, HRC Midwest US. The HRC-iron ore spread (often called 'mill margin') signals integrated mill profitability. Anti-dumping cases reshape flows quarterly — EU safeguard quotas, US Section 232, and various country-specific actions create persistent regional dispersion. Auto demand, construction starts, and white goods orders are the chief end-use drivers.

Contract Structure

How Steel HRC Cargoes Are Priced and Settled

Standard cargo is 5,000-25,000 tonnes per parcel, with thickness 1.5-12mm and width 900-2,000mm common. Pricing is FOB China or CFR destination plus a mill premium for value-added grades (galvanized, electrical, automotive). Quotational period is typically the month of B/L plus or minus, against a published index.

Quality & Disputes

Steel HRC Specifications and Dispute Practice

Common grades: SAE 1006/1008 (commercial), API X42-X70 (line pipe), DD11/DD13 (drawing). Disputes turn on dimensional tolerance, thickness uniformity, and surface quality (scale, scratches). EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates are universal; some buyers require 3.2 third-party certification at additional cost.

Trade Flows

Where Steel HRC Comes From and Where It Goes

Top exporters: China (despite 15% export tax it remains world's largest), Japan, Korea, India, Russia, Turkey, Brazil. Top importers: ASEAN region, EU, Mexico, Middle East, North Africa. The US imports relatively little HRC due to Section 232; Mexican coil flows via USMCA bypass tariffs and have grown dramatically since 2020.

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