Even as US domestic coated flat steel spot prices are trending higher, skepticism over announced increases hasn't subsided. Commonly, following a price increase announcement from mills (or anticipation of an increase), buyers begin to make hedge buys and lock-in mill offers in case prices go up, causing a mild flurry of activity. However, following $2.00 cwt. ($44/mt or $40/nt) increase announcements from all US domestic flats mills earlier this month, purchasing activity for hot dipped galvanized (HDG) and Galvalume coil hasn't improved much--most are still making as-needed purchases and aren't willing to stock inventories just yet.
Nonetheless, spot prices are inching higher, although a number of larger buyers tell SteelOrbis they have still only been forced to pay only a small--up to $0.50 cwt. ($11/mt or $10/nt)--increase so far. HDG and Galvalume base spot prices are up $1.00 cwt. ($22/mt or $20/nt) on the low end since last week to the range of $35.00-$36.00 cwt. ($772-$794/mt or $700-$720/nt) ex-Midwest mill, and spot prices for certain coating extras have risen by a similar amount in tandem. But even as mill order activity remains largely flat, rumors of another increase for September orders are mounting, and a second increase could come as soon as the end of July.
| Cwt. | Metric Ton (mt) | Net ton (nt) | Change from last week | |
| US domestic HDG base price | $35.00-$36.00 | $772-$794 | $700-$720 | ↑ $1.00 cwt. on low end |
| 0.012"x40.875" G30 | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $45.00-$47.00 | $992-$1,036 | $900-$940 | ↑ $1.00 cwt. on low end |
| 0.019"x48" G90 | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $45.00-$46.00 | $992-$1,014 | $900-$920 | ↑ $1.00 cwt. on low end |
| US domestic Galvalume base price | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $35.00-$36.00 | $772-$794 | $700-$720 | ↑ $1.00 cwt. on low end |
| 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 | ||||
| ex-Midwest mill | $46.00-$47.00 | $1,014-$1,036 | $920-$940 | ↑ $1.00 cwt. |