It's no great secret that galvanized and galvalume are the weakest products among flats. So one might think it's a bit odd, that prices are ever-firming. Add mill price increases and the new endless-possibilities in terms of what will happen with scrap prices, and you'll find yourself among a large number of highly confused buyers. While price increases are still anticipated to cool off come the second half of the year, for now at least, mills will most continue to push for at least one, if not two more pricing increases before that happens.
The upper end of HDG base spot transaction prices has increased approximately $1.00 cwt. ($22/mt or $20/nt) since last week, with offers now being seen in the approximate range of $39.00 cwt. to $41.00 cwt. ($860/mt to $903/mt or $780/nt to $820/nt) ex-Midwest mills. The range for domestic offerings for 0.019" x 48" G90 (0.48 mm x 1.219 m) has also widened by about $1.00 cwt. ($22/mt or $20/nt), and are now being seen at approximately $50.00 cwt. to $52.00 cwt. ($1,102/mt to $1,146/mt or $1,000/nt to $1,140/nt). In other related news, spot offers for 0.012" x 40.875" G30 (0.30 mm x 1.04 m) have increased a bit further, by approximately $1.50 cwt. ($33/mt or $30/nt), and are now being reported in the approximate range of $51.00 cwt. to $53.00 cwt. ($1,124/mt to $1,168/mt or $1,020/nt to $1,060/nt), ex-Midwest mills.
As far as domestic Galvalume coil goes, spot pricing for base sizes have increased by about $1.00 cwt. ($22/mt or $20/nt) and are now being seen in the approximate range of $39.00 cwt. to $41.00 cwt. ($860/mt to $903/mt or $780/nt to $820/nt) ex-Midwest mills. Offers for 0.019" x 41.5625" Gr80/AZ55 also increased by about $1.00 cwt. ($22/mt or $20/nt) and are now being seen in the approximate range of $50.00 cwt. to $51.00 cwt. ($1,102/mt to $1,124/mt or $1,000/nt to $1,020/nt).
Shifting focus overseas, after a couple-weeks long lull, import offers to the US have finally begun to reemerge, although it is too early to tell if any of these generate actual interest. Offers for HDG 0.019" x 48" G90 (0.48 mm x 1.219 m) are now being seen in the approximate range of $55.00 cwt. to $56.00 cwt. ($1,213/mt to $1,235/mt or $1,100/nt to $1,020/nt) out of India; in the approximate range of $49.00 cwt. to $50.00 cwt. ($1,090/mt to $1,102 or $980/nt to $1,000/nt) out of China, and in the approximate range of $54.00 cwt. to $55.00 cwt. ($1,191/mt to $1,212/mt or $1,080/nt to $1,100/nt) out of Taiwan; all FOB loaded truck US Gulf ports.
Offers for HDG 0.012" x 40.875" G30 (0.30 mm x 1.04 m) are also being seen again, in the approximate range of $53.00 cwt. to $54.00 cwt. ($1,168/mt to $1,191/mt or $1,060/nt to $1,080/nt) out of India; in the approximate rage of $49.00 cwt. to $50.00 cwt. ($1,080/mt to $1,102/mt or $980/nt to $1,000/nt) out of China; and in the approximate range of $54.00 cwt. to $55.00 cwt. ($1,191/mt to $1,213/mt or $1,080/nt $1,100/nt) out of Taiwan; all FOB loaded truck US Gulf ports.
As for Galvalume 0.019" x 41.4625" Gr80/AZ55 , import offers are now being seen in the approximate range of $55.00 cwt. to $56.00 cwt. ($1,213/mt to $1,235/mt or $1,100/mt to $1,120/nt) out of Taiwan and in the approximate range of $56.00 cwt to $57.00 cwt. ($1,235/mt to $1,257/mt or $1,120/nt to $1,140/nt) out of India, both FOB loaded truck US Gulf port.
Meanwhile, Mexican offerings for the same product have increased approximately $2.00 cwt. ($44/mt or $40/nt) since our last report and are now being seen at about $52.00 cwt. to $53.00 cwt. ($1,146/mt to $1,168/mt or $1,040/nt to $1,060/nt) delivered to the border.