Stainless steel prices rose in April amid a rise in major North American mills base prices and raw material surcharges, with market players emphasizing that strong demand has allowed the mill increases to stick.

Stainless distributors cited a 5~6% rise in April surcharges for the 300 grades that, when coupled with the mills hikes led to the steepest stainless price increase in months.

Multiple distributor sources noting that mill lead times are out to July or August.

Excerpts from American Metal Market April 7, 2014