Key Takeaways

• HRC moved from $990 in early March to $1,080 as of May 11th 2026 – but the three-question test buyers should run before placing a single order is what separates margin protection from margin compression. The full framework is inside.
• Service centers are sitting at 2.24 months of supply, the leanest March reading in years. There is a specific signal that tells procurement teams whether that number argues for buying now or waiting – members get the decision matrix.
• Three procurement postures (covered, balanced, and hedged) produce dramatically different outcomes in the current market. The full breakdown of when each posture applies, and how to switch between them, is in the article.

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