After falling the last couple weeks, import hot dipped galvanized (HDG) and Galvalume offer prices to the US are still softening. Import activity in the US the last few months has been extremely quiet due to an uncertain US domestic pricing trend; meanwhile, finished steel demand in the Far East is lethargic, resulting in mills in Taiwan and China growing more eager to send material to the US. However, the $0.50 cwt. ($11/mt or $10/nt) to as much as $2.00 cwt. ($44/mt or $40/nt) average drop in offer prices the last couple weeks has not been enough to spur any measurable increase in activity.
Consequently, a number of offshore mills have shown eagerness to be flexible with prices for the "right order." And if Chinese mills officially drop their prices again, Indian mills are likely to rapidly follow suit. Nonetheless, no major declines in import prices are anticipated in the near term as trader sources tell SteelOrbis that there is still concern that a trade case could be filed against the increased imports that arrived in March and April.
| Import HDG offers to the US | Cwt. | Metric ton (mt) | Net ton (nt) | Change from last week |
| 0.012"x40.875" G30 | ||||
| India* | $45-$46 | $992-$1,014 | $900-$920 | neutral |
| China* | $44.50-$45.50 | $981-$1,003 | $890-$910 | neutral |
| Mexico** | $44-$45 | $970-$992 | $880-$900 | neutral |
| 0.019" x 48" G90 | ||||
| China* | $46-$47 | $1,014-$1,036 | $920-$940 | neutral |
| India* | $46-$47 | $1,014-$1,036 | $920-$940 | neutral |
| Import Galvalume offers to the US | ||||
| 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 | ||||
| Taiwan* | $48-$49 | $1,058-$1,080 | $960-$980 | neutral |
| Mexico** | $46-$47 | $1,014-$1,036 | $920-$940 | neutral |
| China* | $46-$47 | $1,014-$1,036 | $920-$940 | neutral |
**DDP loaded delivered into Houston