As the week ending April 18, the global Cold Rolled Sheet market monitor shifting macroeconomic conditions, policy developments, and international relations, as these factors continue to shape the cold rolled sheet market.

Key Takeaways

• The U.S., rebounding supply against weakening demand has triggered price declines for Cold Rolled Sheet.
• Germany’s market remains in balance, with price stability supported by disciplined supply and steady industrial demand.
• China faces a classic oversupply scenario, as production growth and subdued demand drive prices lower, further complicated by international trade uncertainties.

USA

Cold Rolled Sheet prices in the US market decreased, due to widening gap between rebounding supply and decreasing demand.  The domestic cold rolled sheet supply landscape is poised for transformation, with structural changes brewing beneath the surface. Additionally, South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group has solidified an agreement with POSCO Holdings to jointly advance steel production in the U.S. Furthermore, POSCO will invest in Hyundai Steel’s newly announced electric arc furnace (EAF) project in Louisiana. The mill, designed to produce 2.7 million metric tons annually, will focus on high-quality steel for the automotive sector. This collaboration not only signals a future shift towards low-carbon steel production but also marks POSCO’s deeper entry into the North American steel market. However, current supply conditions reflect an imbalance. With overseas demand weakening, the U.S. is witnessing a buildup of excess steel at home. As a result, the prices of Cold rolled sheet declined in US market.

Germany

German prices for cold rolled sheet remain constant. This is maintained even with production and demand remaining unchanged, suggesting some equilibrium in the market conditions. From the supply side, German steel producers have controlled the production output to ensure that it satisfies the domestic consumption. In addition, the available competition both within and outside the borders of the country does not seem to pose significant threats in the market because most domestic producers are supplying a large proportion of the needs without using foreign supplies. On the demand side, there has been sustained economic activity which has defended the cold rolled sheet demand, sustaining activity across various industries.

China

Cold rolled sheet prices declined, due to gap between hardening supply and softening demand. The supply condition in China further expanded, as per National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated in the first quarter of 2025. Cold rolled sheet production alone rose in March, recording a year-on-year increase of 8.1%. In addition, falling prices of metallurgical raw materials during the period reduced input costs to steelmakers, hence protecting margins despite softening prices. Demand remained sluggish, with uncertainty clouding the market. Additionally, China's industry is also being battered by huge external headwinds following rising tensions with the United States. These moves have long cast a cloud over export-led demand, and especially over sectors that rely on access to US markets. Together with subdued domestic buying, reducing export opportunities has helped build up inventory pressure and limit price support for cold rolled sheet.

According to ChemAnalyst, sluggish demand in both the U.S. and China may continue to drive cold rolled sheet prices lower. Meanwhile, prices of Cold Rolled Sheet in Germany are projected to remain stable, driven by no shift in demand and supply dynamics.