The most commonly reported spot price transaction rang for US domestic hot dipped galvanized (HDG) coil may have held steady since our last report a week ago, at approximately $39-$40 cwt. ($860-$882/mt or $780-$800/nt,) ex-Midwest mill, but sources close to SteelOrbis feel that it’s “just a matter of time before domestic mills push out another price increase.”
Last week, West coast-based USS-POSCO announced they would be raising prices on all US domestic flat rolled steel products, including HDG coil, by $7.50 cwt. ($165/mt or $150/nt), effective immediately.
“A lot of us wondered if the Midwest mills would follow USS-POSCO’s lead,” one Texas-based source said. “There’s been a lot of rumors going around that the domestics are going to try to push for on more [price increase], so while USS-POSCO leading the charge would have been unusual, we weren’t surprised at the announcenet. The only thing that surprised us was that it was up $7.50 cwt. because that’s a big jump.”
Service center supplies for HDG coil continue to trend tight, another source noted, adding that 1.7 months “seems to be the current magic number.”
“Between service center supply levels and the still pending final determination announcement in the HDG trade case, you could definitely make the argument that there’s still room for prices to go up.”
| Cwt. | Metric Ton (mt) | Net ton (nt) | Change from last week | |
| US domestic HDG base price | $39-$40 | $860-$882 | $780-$800 | neutral |
| 0.012”x40.875” G30 | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $47.50-$49.50 | $1047-$1091 | $950-$990 | neutral |
| 0.019”x48” G90 | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $46.50-$48.50 | $1025-$1069 | $930-$970 | neutral |
| US domestic Galvalume base price | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $38.50-$40.50 | $849-$893 | $770-$810 | neutral |
| 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $47.50-$49.50 | $1047-$1091 | $950-$990 | neutral |