Steel price development May 2025 – Prices consolidate after spring high

In this article you will receive a current overview of Steel price development in May 2025 with a special focus on European steel construction and industrial processing. The information is aimed at Buyers, project managers and technical decision-makers in metal and plant engineering.

The international ones Hot strip prices have recently noticeably increased after the significant increase in spring consolidated:

• In Europe At the beginning of 2025 the price was around 580 USD (≈ 530 €) per ton.
  By mid-April it had risen to over 740 USD (≈ 690 €), most recently it fell again to approx. 690 USD (≈ €640) per ton (as of May 21, 2025).

• In the USA Prices have also fallen in recent weeks – currently at around 840 USD per ton.

• In China the market is stable with prices around 450 USD per ton.

This development brings buyers something more Planability and flexibility in calculationThe market remains dynamic, but the extreme volatility of the spring has eased somewhat.

The indicators on the raw material exchanges are mainly for hot-rolled sheets used in the automotive industry.

There are no such stock exchange listings for steel beams or steel profiles. As a rule, the prices correlate very strongly, so that the development of steel prices can be seen from this. There are also various indices for steel beams, sheets and steel profiles, but these are only published afterwards. This Steel price index(here is a clear interactive display with current values) occurs primarily in the construction industry variable prices  Application. However, this index is too slow for many applications.

Chart of prices for 1-month contracts in USD per ton for steel on the LME commodity exchange through January 2025. Steel prices are currently rising moderately. Source: LME.com

Prices for steel beams, sheets and profiles

Currently, prices for heavy beams and coarse sheets are €750 to €1.000 per ton, depending on thickness, surface treatment, and origin. Thinner sheets and profiles are at the upper end of this range.

• Average market price in Germany: approx. 850 €/t (ex works, excluding freight, large quantities from 10 tons)

Current prices for steel construction

Steel prices are a determining factor for the prices of steel structures. Steel prices are currently moving in the opposite direction to general inflation, which is why the influence has decreased somewhat and wage costs are once again in the foreground.

From low-wage countries such as Turkey and the Balkans, heavy steel structures can currently be purchased for as little as €1,70 per kg. In the eastern EU countries, prices are on average approximately 25% higher.

Steel price forecast 2025 – market remains volatile

Since Donald Trump's return to the presidency (October 2024), new Tariffs, geopolitical tensions and volatile commodity markets price developments. For many industries, the situation is difficult to predict.

Short-term outlook:

• continued fluctuating prices

• slightly downward trend

• little reliability in long-term price fixing

More and more companies are responding with short-term contracts and flexible purchasing models.

Where can I find current steel price information?

In addition to the summary on this page, you will find current steel prices for various types of steel, especially on the London Commodity Exchange LME.

What factors influence steel prices?

Pricing is complex. The influencing factors include energy and raw material prices as well as supply and demand. The production of steel requires some lead time. Blast furnaces and production processes have to be started up and shut down. This takes time and precise planning. Therefore, the market cannot always react quickly enough to a new situation and an oversupply or shortage can arise. This can also lead to speculation. In times of delivery bottlenecks, many companies try to stock up on steel and fill their warehouses. This can drive prices up further.

Are there (serious) forecasts for future steel prices?

Forecasts for steel prices are very difficult because unforeseeable events always occur to which the steel price reacts very sensitively. In the recent past these were the Corona pandemic and the war in Ukraine. A reliable forecast is therefore not possible. An indication of price developments are futures contracts that are traded on the raw materials exchange.

How is the price of structural steel developing?

Structural steel is not a separate type of steel. Structural steel is an umbrella term for unalloyed steels with a carbon content of approximately 0,2-0,5%. Structural steel is used in both construction and mechanical engineering.

In construction, structural steel is used for supporting structures (steel beams, steel profiles, etc.) and for reinforcing concrete. The structural steel prices for reinforcement (reinforcing steel) can even be found on the raw materials exchange under the term “Rebar”. However, these come from foreign sources. The Steel price index also shows the price development of reinforcing steel. The prices of structural steel beams can be found in the article above.

How do you compare different steel price sources?

On the raw materials exchange there are sources for the prices of various types of steel such as hot strip steel or reinforcing steel. However, there is no stock exchange listing for most semi-finished products such as beams or sheets. However, the prices correlate and this means that conclusions about the prices can be drawn from the combination of historical data and stock market prices for other types of steel. However, it is important that only types of steel with a similar composition are compared. For stainless steel, for example, the nickel content is far more important for pricing than the iron content.

Why do steel prices fluctuate in different regions?

Steel prices are relatively homogeneous regionally, but an imbalance in supply and demand or different energy and labor costs can also cause differences. If the differences are too large, they will be compensated for by export trade. In a stable market, the differences are limited to transport costs, tariffs and other trade restrictions.

What impact do steel prices have on the industry?

For many industrial companies, steel is one of the most important production factors. The price of steel therefore directly influences the price of their products. This influences their competitive situation compared to substitute goods. A company that steel halls With a low steel price, it has an advantage over a company that builds halls out of wood. Steel prices also influence the costs of capital goods such as machines or warehouses.