Last week's bump in import interest has sustained, as US buyers are becoming increasingly more willing to place an offshore order for hot dipped galvanized (HDG) and Galvalume coil. Although current offshore lead times are out until around November, some import prices have been attractive enough anyway to draw orders from the US. Indian and Chinese HDG 0.012"x40.875" G30 offer prices are unchanged from last week $43.00-$44.00 cwt. ($948-$970/mt or $860-$880/nt) DDP loaded truck in US Gulf ports, and are collecting the majority of US coated flat steel import orders. Mexico's offer prices are between $42.00-$43.00 cwt. ($936-$948/mt or $840-$860/nt) DDP loaded truck delivered into Houston, low enough to interest buyers situated at Gulf coast ports.
As for Galvalume 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 coil, import bookings have also improved in the last week, however trader sources tell SteelOrbis that Chinese and Taiwanese mills may be open to negotiation regarding prices considering offer prices are currently in line with, and even slightly above, US domestic spot prices. Additionally, Far East steel demand remains extremely poor and flat rolled prices in China and Taiwan have been on a persistent downtrend over recent weeks.
| Import HDG offers to the US | Cwt. | Metric ton (mt) | Net ton (nt) | Change from last week |
| 0.012"x40.875" G30 | ||||
| India* | $43-$44 | $948-$970 | $860-$880 | neutral |
| China* | $43-$44 | $948-$970 | $860-$880 | neutral |
| Mexico** | $42-$43 | $926-$948 | $840-$860 | neutral |
| 0.019" x 48" G90 | ||||
| China* | $44-$45 | $970-$992 | $880-$900 | neutral |
| India* | $44-$45 | $970-$992 | $880-$900 | neutral |
| Import Galvalume offers to the US | ||||
| 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 | ||||
| Taiwan* | $45-$46 | $992-$1,014 | $900-$920 | neutral |
| Mexico** | $44-$46 | $970-$1,014 | $880-$920 | neutral |
| China* | $46-$47 | $1,014-$1,036 | $920-$940 | neutral |
**DDP loaded truck delivered into Houston