As you enter the final quarter of 2026, now is a good time to review what you still need before year-end — and what you may already know you’ll need in early 2027. U.S. steel prices have continued to move higher, nickel remains important for stainless and nickel alloys, and supply conditions are tightening in several areas.

If you have known requirements, forecasts, or recurring material needs, send them our way. Our sales team can help you check availability and lead times, and determine whether purchasing now or setting up a blanket order makes sense for your operation.

Market Headlines At-a-Glance

  • S. hot-rolled coil pricing reached approximately $1,225 per short tonin early September, up about $45/ton in one month.
  • Domestic mills continue to maintain strong pricing discipline as spot availability remains limited.
  • Nickel remains an important number to watch for stainless and high-performance alloys.
  • Cobalt supply continues to deserve attention for cobalt-bearing specialty alloys.
  • Copper remains supported by long-term demand from electrical infrastructure, power generation and data centers.
  • Q4 purchasing and early 2027 forecasting are becoming increasingly important as buyers compete for available mill capacity.

Nickel Alloys

Nickel remains one of the most important markets for many of our customers because its movement can quickly affect nickel-alloy and stainless replacement costs.

Continental supplies a broad range of nickel alloys, including Alloy 200/201, 20, 400 (Monel®), K-500, 600, 601, 617, 625, 718, 800/800H/800HT, 825, C22, C276, X, X-750, A-286 and Invar 36, among others.

Aluminum

Aluminum remains supported by demand from aerospace, transportation, electrical infrastructure and construction.

We supply commonly requested aluminum grades including 2024, 3003, 5052, 5086, 6061, 6063 and 7075 in a variety of forms and specifications.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel continues to be influenced by two different components: mill base pricing and alloy surcharges.

Nickel remains one of the biggest variables behind surcharge movement, meaning stainless prices can change even when mill base prices remain unchanged.

Continental supplies 304/304L, 310, 316/316L, 317L, 321, 347, 2205 Duplex, 2507 Super Duplex and other stainless grades across pipe, tube, bar, plate, sheet, fittings, flanges and structural products.

Titanium

Titanium continues to benefit from strong aerospace and defense demand, and supply-chain security remains an important consideration for qualified material.

Continental supplies titanium including Grade 2 commercially pure titanium and Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V), along with additional grades and specifications for demanding applications.

Availability can vary considerably by grade, specification, product form and required origin.

Copper, Brass & Bronze

Copper remains one of the most interesting long-term metal markets.

Investment in electrical grids, power generation, electrification and data-center infrastructure continues to create additional demand for copper. Brass and bronze pricing remains closely connected to movements in the underlying copper market.

Our copper-alloy capabilities include C110 copper, C360 brass, C464 Naval Brass, C630 Nickel Aluminum Bronze, C632, C954 Aluminum Bronze and C172 Beryllium Copper, among other grades.

Carbon Steel & Alloys

This is one of the biggest markets to watch entering Q4.

U.S. hot-rolled coil averaged approximately $1,225 per short ton in early September, roughly $45/ton higher than one month earlier. Domestic mills have continued pushing pricing higher while available spot tons remain limited.

Continental supplies a wide range of carbon and alloy products, including A36, A572, A588 weathering steel, A606-4, A847, 4130, 4140, 4340 and 8620, as well as numerous ASTM and API pipe specifications.

Cobalt Alloys

Cobalt remains a strategic metal worth watching as we enter Q4.

Supply restrictions from the Democratic Republic of the Congo have kept attention on the market throughout 2026. Although the impact is concentrated primarily in cobalt-bearing and high-performance alloys rather than the broader metals market, restricted supply leaves less room for unexpected disruptions.

Continental can assist with specialty cobalt-bearing materials including L605 (Haynes® 25), Stellite® 6, Stellite® 21 and other cobalt-based alloys used in demanding wear, temperature and corrosion applications.

Industry Spotlight: U.S. Steel Supply Is Tightening

One of the more important developments heading into Q4 isn’t simply the price of steel — it’s how difficult some buyers are finding it to negotiate and secure tons.

In early September, only about 9% of surveyed sheet and plate buyers reported that mills were willing to negotiate pricing, with the figure dropping to approximately 4% for hot-rolled coil.

At the same time, domestic HRC pricing moved above $1,200 per short ton, and fall mill outages could further limit available capacity.

This doesn’t mean every steel product will become difficult to source, but it does reinforce an important purchasing lesson for the final quarter:

If you know you need it, give yourself time to source it.

Q4 Is Here: Let’s Start Planning 2027

October isn’t just the beginning of the final quarter — it’s also when many purchasing teams begin building their 2027 forecasts and budgets.

Whether your recurring requirements are nickel alloys, stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, carbon and alloy steel, copper, brass, bronze or specialty metals, send us your forecast.

Continental Steel & Tube can work with you on blanket orders with scheduled releases, helping reserve material, improve supply visibility and, where possible, establish pricing for future requirements.

You don’t necessarily need to receive everything at once. We can work with your purchasing team to structure releases around your actual production schedule.

Looking Ahead

The final quarter of 2026 is beginning with firmer U.S. steel pricing, continued movement in key alloy inputs, and strong long-term demand across aerospace, defense, energy and infrastructure.

For our customers, the message is simple: the more visibility you can give us, the more options we can explore for you.

Whether you need Alloy 625, 718, 316L, 2205, Titanium Grade 5, 7075 Aluminum, 4140, Nickel Aluminum Bronze — or something much harder to find — give us a call. Our sales team is here to answer questions, review specifications, and help source your requirements.

📞 954-332-2290
✉️ sales@continentalsteel.com