Prices for US import hot dipped galvanized (HDG) coil may have held sideways since our last report a week ago, but offshore sources are reporting that US buyers are becoming increasingly cautious with order placement.
The reason for this is twofold; first, Texas-based sources continue to report that there is still a lot of material at the docks from orders that were placed earlier this year. Second, some still question whether the US flats market may be more malleable than mills are letting on, especially in light of soft domestic scrap prices and “year-end” considerations. “US spot prices are becoming more and more flexible,” according to one Midwest-based source. “At this point it’s a matter of determining whether deal making is going to hold for those placing the largest orders, or if it will spill over to those wanting to book smaller tonnages as the rest of the month goes on.”
| Import HDG offers to the US | Cwt. | Metric ton (mt) | Net ton (nt) | Change from last week |
| 0.012”x40.875” G30 | ||||
| China* | $41.00-$42.00 | $901-$926 | $820-$840 | neutral |
| India* | $42.00-$43.00 | $926-$950 | $840-$860 | neutral |
| 0.019" x 48" G90 | ||||
| China* | $39.50-$40.50 | $871-$893 | $790-$810 | neutral |
| India* | $42.75-$43.75 | $942-$965 | $855-$875 | neutral |
| Import Galvalume offers to the US | ||||
| 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 | ||||
| China* | $42.00-$43.00 | $926-$950 | $840-$860 | neutral |
| India* | $42.00-$43.00 | $926-$950 | $840-$860 | neutral |
| Brazil* | $40.50-$41.50 | $892-$914 | $810-830 | neutral |
| Korea* | $42.00-$43.00 | $926-$950 | $840-$860 | neutral |
| Taiwan* | $42.00-$43.00 | $926-$950 | $840-$860 | neutral |
| Mexico | $40.50-$42.00 | $893-$926 | $810-$840 | neutral |
| *DDP loaded truck in US Gulf ports |