In the midst of other US domestic long steel products rising with mill price increases, the US merchant bar market took a decidedly different track in late September. Mills announced a sharp price decrease of $3.00 cwt. ($60/nt or $66/mt) for all merchant bar products, which was a “direct result of low priced imports and the subsequent unprecedented level of discounting occurring in the market,” according to the mill announcement letters.
In the ensuing weeks, purchasing activity has remained “lively,” according to sources, especially for certain smaller merchant bar sizes and shapes that were previously satisfied by the now-lackluster import merchant bar market. However, sources say they suspect there is still some discounting in the market because while demand is reportedly decent, there has not been a measurable difference in large distributor buying activity before and after the price decrease.
Including the price decrease, US domestic merchant bar list prices are now as follows:
| Shape/Size | cwt. | net tons | metric tons |
| Flat bar 2 x 1/4”: | $31.15 | $623 | $687 |
| Angle 2 x 2 x 1/4”: | $29.80 | $596 | $657 |
| Square bar 1”: | $29.75 | $595 | $656 |
| Round bar 1”: | $31.20 | $624 | $688 |
| Channels standard C 3 x 4.1 | $30.75 | $615 | $678 |