US import rebar and wire rod prices were steady again this week even as reports of record low imports continue as a result of ongoing Section 232 tariffs. Long steel market participants report a general tightening of domestic rebar supply, with little relief seen until Q1 2026 when importers say they could resume the movement of import tonnages into the US from abroad.
“Trader talk seems to indicate that very few ships are likely to be booked for the balance of this year,” commented one long steel importer to SteelOrbis. “We don’t expect to see much imports coming into the US until January-February, so right now nothing is being offered.”
And while import supply remains reduced, domestic prices were flat again this week, with wire rod pricing on a delivered to customer basis reported unchanged for more than three months at $46.50-47.50/nt ($930-950/nt or $1,025-1,047/mt). Insiders continue to report improved wire rod output from Peoria, Illinois-based Liberty Steel combined with limited demand as a key reason for a lack of recent domestic price movement.
“People are divesting themselves of what they bought in the past by basically selling existing stock on the ground,” the importer added. “At some point, however, those supplies are going to dry up, and a new wave of buying will commence.”
This past week, insiders said low imports combined with uncertainty regarding October mill rolling schedules was expected to continue to contribute to domestic supply shortages, potentially giving domestic mills more leverage on the current spot market pricing front, even though another round of domestic mill price increases failed to occur as was expected earlier this week.
“Nucor didn’t raise domestic rebar pricing like many expected,” the importer commented. “We’re seeing signs that the US economy is slowing down, even though some of the tariffs might be canceled soon.” He continued, “The long steel markets right now seem to be in equilibrium, however, higher US October scrap pricing next month could push domestic pricing higher.”
This week, import rebar on a loaded truck basis on the US Gulf Coast is discussed steady at $43.00-45/cwt., ($860-900/nt or $948-992/mt), depending on the size of the customer, with most transactions averaged steady at $44.50/cwt. ($890/nt or $981/mt). Insiders said a developing trend for domestic rebar is looking higher. “The rebar pricing offers we saw recently at $41.00/cwt., seem to be disappearing,” he said. “Even though the markets remain sluggish and prices remain flat.”
On the US East Coast, import rebar is reported at a slight premium to the US Gulf Coast at $43-46/cwt., depending on customer size, with the weekly SteelOrbis average steady at $45.00/cwt., ($900/nt or $992/mt). Importers point to reports of low August imports as a reason for the East Coast price premium over the Gulf.
“Imports remain at multi-year lows,” said a US Gulf Coast importer. “August arrivals into Texas were just about 50,000 tons, with the Northeast only receiving 10,000-20,000 tons,” he said. “Market chatter suggests scrap may trend higher later in Q3 and into Q4 as new rebar capacity from Hybar (AR) and Nucor SC increases mill requirements.”
In the import wire rod markets, wire rod offers in the Port of Houston are heard steady at $44-49/cwt., ($880- 980/nt or $970-1,080/mt) inclusive of tariffs, though most remain non-competitive compared with wire rod mesh trades heard flat for nearly three months at $42.50-43.50/cwt., ($850-870/nt or $937-959/mt).
“It remains very quiet,” said another Midwest-based importer. “Not much new is happening. There’s a few pending shipments of wire rod and rebar imports from some of the Turkish mills, though most report that they don’t want to be an “importer of record” right now because they don’t want to be accused of dumping products into the US.” He continued, “The (anti-dumping) situation is retroactive, so in effect you could bring supply into the US and two years later you could get a big bill after the (US Department of Commerce) reviews your records.”