As import offer prices for coated flat steel products have risen to uncompetitive price levels in the last couple weeks, import activity is dwindling. Trader sources have said that Chinese, Indian and Taiwanese mills have essentially priced themselves out of the market with the price increases. Since last week, Chinese and Indian offer prices for HDG 0.012"x40.875" G30 and HDG 0.019" x 48" G90 to the US have held steady, and Chinese offers, particularly for HDG 0.019" x 48" G90 are already getting bid down. Indian prices, meanwhile, appear to have peaked after previous price increases stalled import interest and has buyers speculating that prices may soon become more negotiable.
As for import offers of Galvalume 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55, prices out of Mexico, Taiwan and India remain above US domestic spot prices. Mexican prices are still about $46.00-$47.00 cwt. ($1,014-$1,036/mt or $920-$940/nt) DDP loaded truck delivered into Houston but are not actively taking orders after filling books a couple weeks ago. New Taiwanese and Indian prices are $47.50-$48.50 cwt. ($1,047-$1,069/mt or $950-$970/nt) DDP loaded truck in US Gulf ports, compared to US domestic spot prices of $45.00-$46.00 cwt. ($992-$1,014/mt or $900-$920/nt) ex-Midwest mill, and therefore gaining almost no traction from US buyers.
| 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* | $43.50-$44.50 | $959-$981 | $870-$890 | neutral |
| 0.019" x 48" G90 | ||||
| China* | $44.50-$45.50 | $981-$1,003 | $890-$910 | neutral |
| India* | $44.50-$45.50 | $981-$1,003 | $890-$910 | neutral |
| Import Galvalume offers to the US | ||||
| 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 | ||||
| Mexico** | $46-$47 | $1,014-$1,036 | $920-$940 | neutral |
| Taiwan* | $47.50-$48.50 | $1,047-$1,069 | $950-$970 | newly offered |
| India* | $47.50-$48.50 | $1,047-$1,069 | $950-$970 | newly offered |
**DDP loaded truck delivered into Houston