Although April 5 data from the
US Department of Commerce, Enforcement and Compliance indicates that
US import tonnages of hot dipped
galvanized (HDG) sheets and strip have declined slightly in March, a growing number of
US buyers have expressed increased interest in booking offshore due to upticks in
US domestic HDG spot market pricing.
US global import HDG tons for the month of March were calculated at 200,516 mt (census data) which reflects a slight decline from the 213,123 mt (census data) tonnages that arrived at
US port docks during the month of February.
Brazilian HDG producers, however, saw an increase in export tonnages to the
US.
Data from the Brazilian ministry of development, industry and foreign trade (MDIC) indicates that during the month of March, Brazil exported 43,110 mt of HDG products to the
US; March totals reflect a 35 percent increase from levels recorded in February.
Current ex-Brazilian pricing to the
US for 0.019’ x41.5625’ Gr80/AZ55 Galvalume coil has been reported in the approximate range of $37.00-$37.50 cwt. ($816-$827/mt or $740-$750/nt), DDP loaded truck in
US Gulf coast ports. Sources close to SteelOrbis, however, have pointed out that this offer price range is specific to one mill and that “the others definitely have higher asking ranges.
In terms of ex-Brazilian base price HDG futures offers, other SteelOrbis sources have noted that one mill is offering at $31.00-$32.00 cwt. ($683-$705/mt or $620-$640/nt), DDP loaded truck in
US Gulf coast ports.