With lead times from offshore in April and May, traders are finding it difficult to convince US buyers to book an import order. "There is little confidence that US domestic spot prices will be as strong as they are right now by the time an import order placed today arrives," one East Coast trader told SteelOrbis. Only Mexican offers of hot dipped galvanized (HDG) and Galvalume coil products are capturing US-buyer attention; and as a result, Mexican mills raised offer prices to the US in response to higher US domestic spot prices.
Offer prices from mills in Taiwan, China and India have also increased in the last week in response to higher prices in the US. Furthermore, sources tell SteelOrbis that following next week's New Year holiday in China, prices will likely increase again, making the futures offers even more unattractive to US buyers.
| Import HDG offers to the US | Cwt. | Metric ton (mt) | Net ton (nt) | Change from last week |
| 0.012"x40.875" G30 | ||||
| India* | $47-$48 | $1,036-$1,058 | $940-$960 | ↑ $1.00 cwt. |
| China* | $46.50-$47.50 | $1,025-$1,047 | $930-$950 | ↑ $0.50 cwt. |
| Mexico** | $46-$47 | $1,014-$1,036 | $920-$940 | ↑ $1.00 cwt. on low end |
| 0.019" x 48" G90 | ||||
| China* | $47.50-$48.50 | $1,047-$1,069 | $950-$970 | ↑ $0.50 cwt. |
| India* | $47-$48 | $1,036-$1,058 | $940-$960 | ↑ $1.00 cwt. |
| Import Galvalume offers to the US | ||||
| 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 | ||||
| Taiwan* | $48.75-$49.75 | $1,075-$1,097 | $975-$995 | ↑$0.75 cwt. |
| Mexico** | $49-$50 | $1,080-$1,102 | $980-$1,000 | ↑ $2.00 cwt. on low end |
| China* | $48-$49 | $1,058-$1,080 | $960-$980 | ↑ $0.50 cwt. |
**DDP loaded truck delivered into Houston