Recent reports highlight that U.S. steel mills are operating at 78% capacity utilization, slightly above the seasonal average. This efficiency supports current HRC futures pricing near $930 while minimizing downside risks. And Chris Hendrix , president of HRC Realty, whose firm grew 193% in transaction side percentage over five years, put it bluntly: While one might expect more substantial fluctuations in times of heightened market stress – especially with tariff headlines in the mix – the HRC market has yet to see significant volatility. The underlying HRC Index has remained below $700/st, aside from the potential print expected this Wednesday. HRC futures have outperformed other flat steel products, with a year-to-date gain of 8.5%. Traders attribute this to resilient demand in heavy machinery manufacturing alongside restrained supply expansions.
