As some import hot dipped galvanized (HDG) offer prices are on the rise, already minimal activity has slowed further. Even though price increases have been announced in the US domestic flat rolled market, spot prices have not yet risen as a result; meanwhile, import offer prices on coated flat steel products out of China and India continue to increase. Indian HDG 0.012"x40.875" G30 sales prices in the US have not officially moved above previously reported ranges, but trader sources indicated that Indian mills are pushing for orders at only the higher end of the range. Chinese HDG offer prices, meanwhile, have been stable since last week, but many Chinese mills have closed previous offers in anticipation of the upcoming Chinese New Year.
Following the holiday, sources said that Chinese mills have already announced plans to potentially raise prices. Chinese Galvalume 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 offer prices are also likely to rise, even though previous prices received little interest. As a result of no other import competition at the moment, Mexican mills have been able to successfully raise their Galvalume offer prices by $1.00 cwt. ($22/mt or $20/nt) on the low end to $44.00-$45.00 cwt. ($970-$992/mt or $880-$900/nt) DDP loaded truck delivered into Houston, and still receive steady orders from US customers.
| 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* | $42-$43 | $926-$948 | $840-$860 | neutral |
| 0.019" x 48" G90 | ||||
| China* | $44.50-$45.50 | $981-$1,003 | $890-$910 | neutral |
| India* | $43-$45 | $948-$970 | $860-$880 | neutral |
| Import Galvalume offers to the US | ||||
| 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 | ||||
| Mexico** | $44-$45 | $970-$992 | $880-$900 | ↑ $1.00 cwt. on low end |
*DDP loaded truck in US Gulf ports
**DDP loaded truck delivered into Houston