Last week, US flats mills announced a second round of price increases. Since that time, on the heels of upticks in US scrap prices during this month’s buy cycle, US HDG prices have continued to firm. Sources close to SteelOrbis, however, question how much sticking power the increases have. On one hand, demand for finished steel continues to trend week. Many buyers reported advanced stock-buys in advance of the increases being announced, as many thought that market prices had bottomed. Although lead times have begun to trend out, due to pre-increase buying patterns, overall demand remains unexciting.
Current US domestic HDG / Galvalume prices are listed in the chart below. Program buyers, however, continue to report completing ex-mill transactions at price points slightly below the average ranges.
| Product | $/cwt | $/mt | $/nt | Delivery | Weekly change |
| US domestic HDG base price | $34.50-$35.50 | $761-$783 | $690-$710 | ex-mill | up $1.50 cwt. |
| US domestic Galvalume base price | $35.50-$36.50 | $783-$805 | $710-$730 | ex-mill | up $1.50 cwt. |
| 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 | $47.50-$48.50 | $1,047-$1,069 | $950-$970 | ex-mill | up $1.50 cwt. |