US domestic hot dipped galvanized (HDG) coil prices have continued to firm since the end of 2016; today, the most commonly heard spot market price for base-price HDG coil has firmed by $1.00 cwt. ($22/mt or $20/nt) on the low end, which brings the new average range to $40-$41 cwt. ($882-$904/mt or $800-$820/nt), ex-Midwest mill.
Prices, however, could soon firm again.
US domestic scrap prices have trended upward during the January buy-cycle, with the final expectation being that the market will firm by $30-$40/mt in the Midwest and Ohio Valley, and firm $20-$30/mt on the US East coast, from levels seen in December. It’s also worth noting that on Friday, AK Steel has announced they will be raising spot market prices by $2.00 cwt. ($44/mt or $40/nt) on all flat rolled steel products, including US domestic HDG, effective immediately.
Although the other flat rolled steel mills have yet to announce similar increases, it’s speculated that those announcements are imminent.
| Cwt. | Metric Ton (mt) | Net ton (nt) | Change from last week | |
| US domestic HDG base price | $40-$41 | $882-$904 | $800-$820 | up $1.00 cwt. on the low end |
| 0.012”x40.875” G30 | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $46.50-$48.50 | $1025-$1069 | $930-$970 | 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 | $39.50-$40.50 | $871-$893 | $790-$810 | up $1.00 cwt. on the low end |
| 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $46.50-$48.50 | $1025-$1069 | $930-$970 | neutral |