News - US Steel Price Index Update: Slotted C Channel Gains Premium in January 2026

With the release of US infrastructure market data for the first month of 2026, slotted C-channel steel (Strut Channel) is emerging as the market leader in construction steel. According to the latest steel price index, demand for this type of suppor steel structure experienced explosive growth in January 2026, directly driven by the data center construction boom.

Market Indices and Price Trends

Closing data from last Friday (January 23) showed that the US Midwest Hot Rolled Coil (HRC) futures index remained around $943/ton, while processed galvanized perforated channel steel products had a significant premium.

Firm Prices: Despite major players like Nucor pausing their nine-week price hike streak and stabilizing base prices around $950/ton, end-user C-shaped steel prices rose slightly due to processing costs and tight raw material supply.

Scrap Steel Support: Scrap steel prices are expected to rise by $20-40/ton in January due to winter-related disruptions to scrap recycling, providing strong floor price support for support steel used in electric arc furnace production.

Core Growth Engines: AI and Infrastructure

The Data Center Miracle: 2026 is considered the "Year of AI Infrastructure" by the industry. Due to the massive demand for cable trays, conduit supports, and equipment racks in data centers, perforated C-shaped steel, as a core modular component, saw orders increase by over 12% month-over-month.

Labor Substitution Effect: Faced with a persistent shortage of construction labor, more and more contractors are opting for prefabricated perforated C-shaped steel systems. This "Lego-like" assembly method can reduce on-site labor costs by approximately 15%, further securing its market share.

Future Risk Warning

Despite the current strong demand, analysts predict that with the release of new capacity in the second half of 2026, the steel price index may fall back to its long-term average of $700/ton by the end of the year.

China Royal Steel Ltd

Address

Bl20, Shanghecheng, Shuangjie Street, Beichen District, Tianjin, China

E-mail

[email protected]

Phone

+86 13652091506

Post time: Jan-26-2026

US Steel Price Index: Slotted C Channel 2026