As expected, Chinese mills returned from the Spring Festival holiday with newly higher prices, but demand from the US market is too weak to absorb the increases. Chinese mills raised CFR offer prices to the US $20/mt last week across the board on the heels of improved demand in the Chinese local market, as well as higher raw material costs. However, because new orders have not been placed at the higher prices, sales prices in the US have yet increase as a result. Nonetheless, traders indicate that the mills are adamant about achieving an increase and new orders are all-but-guaranteed to require higher prices.
Indian prices, meanwhile, have remained stable after increasing the previous few weeks. As for Galvalume, no new offers have been heard out of Taiwan, but Mexican offer prices are up significantly. At least one major Mexican producer has sold out April production for Galvalume 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 at $46.00-$47.00 cwt. ($1,014-$1,036/mt or $920-$940/nt) DDP loaded truck in US Gulf ports, up $2.00 cwt. ($44/mt or $40/nt) in the last week.
| Cwt. | Metric ton (mt) | Net ton (nt) | Change from last week | |
| Import HDG offers to the US | ||||
| 0.012"x40.875" G30 | ||||
| China* | $41-$42 | $904-$926 | $820-$840 | neutral |
| India* | $43.50-$44.50 | $959-$981 | $870-$890 | neutral |
| 0.019" x 48" G90 | ||||
| China* | $44.50-$45.50 | $981-$1,003 | $890-$910 | neutral |
| India* | $44.50-$45.50 | $981-$1,003 | $890-$910 | neutral |
| Import Galvalume offers to the US | ||||
| 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 | ||||
| Mexico** | $46-$47 | $1,014-$1,036 | $920-$940 | ↑$2.00 cwt. |
**DDP loaded truck delivered into Houston