After remaining little changed for the past few months, import prices in the US for hot dipped galvanized (HDG) and Galvalume coil have dropped, and further declines are anticipated; many typical import buyers have already switched to buying US domestic material for the time being, according to industry insiders. Chinese mills lowered official HDG offer prices to the US by $10/mt early last week, and then another $5/mt by the end of the week, but trader sources have indicated that the drop hasn't been enough to stir any increased activity. Indian mills have lowered offers by a similar amount and sales prices in the US from China and India are now both down $0.50 cwt. ($11/mt or $10/nt) in the last week.
Offer prices for Galvalume have fallen more substantially, with Chinese prices dropping $3.00 cwt. ($66/mt or $60/nt) largely due to extremely lackluster activity in the local Chinese market, in addition to softening spot prices in the US. Taiwanese Galvalume 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 prices in the US are $1.00 cwt. ($22/mt or $20/nt) lower than they were a week ago, but offers are expected to decline at least another $1.00 cwt. in the next week or two.
| Import HDG offers to the US | Cwt. | Metric ton (mt) | Net ton (nt) | Change from last week |
| 0.012"x40.875" G30 | ||||
| India* | $45.50-$46.50 | $1,003-$1,025 | $910-$930 | ↓ $0.50 cwt. |
| China* | $44.50-$45.50 | $981-$1,003 | $890-$910 | ↓ $0.50 cwt. |
| Mexico** | $45-$46 | $992-$1,014 | $900-$920 | neutral |
| 0.019" x 48" G90 | ||||
| China* | $46.50-$47.50 | $1,025-$1,047 | $930-$950 | ↓ $0.50 cwt. |
| India* | $46.50-$47.50 | $1,025-$1,047 | $930-$950 | ↓ $0.50 cwt. |
| Import Galvalume offers to the US | ||||
| 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 | ||||
| Taiwan* | $48-$49 | $1,058-$1,080 | $960-$980 | ↓ $1.00 cwt. |
| Mexico** | $46-$47 | $1,014-$1,036 | $920-$940 | ↓ $0.50 cwt. |
| China* | $46-$47 | $1,014-$1,036 | $920-$940 | ↓ $3.00 cwt. |
**DDP loaded truck delivered into Houston