US domestic demand for coated flat steel products has been good in the last couple weeks, but buyers are in no hurry to make purchases. Many have import material coming in March and bought ahead of the fourth round of price increases--for approximately $1.50 cwt. ($33/mt or $30/nt). Severstal North America sent a letter to customers on January 13 announcing the increase and while other mills have not followed in writing, they are verbally asking for approximately $44.00 cwt. ($970/mt or $880/nt) ex-mill for hot dipped galvanized (HDG) base, according to SteelOrbis sources. Most buyers are only making purchases on an as-need basis, which has resulted in lead times stalling, and even slightly contracting, at approximately six to eight weeks.
Galvalume spot prices are faring slightly better and base prices have firmed by $1.00 cwt. ($22/mt or $20/nt) since last week to $41.00-$43.00 cwt. ($904-$948/mt or $800-$860/nt) ex-Midwest mill due to less Galvalume availability, while HDG spot prices have stayed neutral from last week. Even so, with demand levels steady, mills may be able to push HDG and Galvalume spot prices up further in the next couple weeks, but uncertainty is mounting about anything further out.
| Cwt. | Metric Ton (mt) | Net ton (nt) | Change from last week | |
| US domestic HDG base price | $40.00-$42.00 | $882-$926 | $800-$840 | neutral |
| 0.012"x40.875" G30 | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $52.00-$54.00 | $1,146-$1,190 | $1,040-$1,080 | neutral |
| 0.019"x48" G90 | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $52.00-$54.00 | $1,146-$1,190 | $1,040-$1,080 | neutral |
| US domestic Galvalume base price | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $41.00-$43.00 | $904-$948 | $800-$860 | ↑$1.00 cwt. |
| 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $52.00-$53.00 | $1,146-$1,168 | $1,040-$1,060 | ↑ $1.00 cwt. on low end |