US import rebar and wire rod pricing was slightly higher this week even as reports continue that long steel imports are likely to continue to rise. This week’s small price bump comes at a time when US scrap prices for March and April are expected to be stable to potentially lower for the first time in more than three months, market insiders told SteelOrbis.
The outlook for a break in the ongoing US scrap price rally follows another recent round of domestic mill long steel and structural steel price increase announcements, boosting rebar and wire rod spot prices to levels not seen since late-2022. These price hikes, insiders said, will continue to make room for a limited amount of imports to enter the US markets, mostly from South Korea, even though existing 50 percent Section 232 steel tariffs, long lead times, and strong freight rates could keep volumes on the low side. And while most steel insiders told SteelOrbis imports are likely to creep up as US long steel prices rise, the extent of the import increase remains in contention.
“While some suppliers are expecting imports in the first half of 2026 (1H) to fall in the 100,000-150,000 metric ton range, we are expecting to see 1H imports much higher than some anticipate in the 300,000 to 400,000 mt range,” noted one Chicago-based long steel importer. “We’re expecting to see spring and summer import arrivals priced from Korea in the $43.50-44.50/cwt., [$870-890/nt or $959-981/mt] range. However, given current two month lead times for supply contracted today, new imports will not arrive in the US until July or August.”
On the US Gulf Coast, import rebar on a loaded truck basis is reported $0.50/cwt., higher at $44.50-45.50/cwt., ($890-910/nt or $981-1,003/mt). US East Coast import rebar pricing was steady to week-ago levels at $45.00-46/cwt., ($900-920/nt or $992-1,014/mt), insiders said.
“South Korea remains the primary viable supplier, particularly Hyundai Steel,” noted one US Gulf Coast importer to SteelOrbis. “Volumes are expected to remain limited… with higher FOB offers [around $550/mt] expected to reduce arbitrage opportunities.”
In March 2025, Hyundai Steel announced a major $5.8 billion investment to build its first US steel production facility in Donaldsville, La. The new plant, with a stated annual capacity of 2.7 million tons, will produce automotive steel plates for Hyundai and KIA factories in Alabama and Georgia. Groundbreaking is expected to begin early this year with a completion date targeted for 2029.
In the weekly import wire rod markets, wire rod mesh on a DDP loaded truck basis is reported at $44.00-45/cwt., ($880-900/nt or $970-992/mt), up $0.50/cwt from one week earlier.
“Asian markets remain competitive globally, but US tariffs and freight costs continue to limit penetration,” remarked the US Gulf Coast importer. “Wire rod fundamentals are stable to firm, with domestic pricing cost supported with limited near-term downside risk.”
And while importers report selective discounting on domestic merchant bars of $2-4/cwt., ongoing section 232 tariffs have significantly reduced competitiveness of offshore MBQ import offers with pricing noted near $1,200/nt ($60.00/cwt.) on a landed basis. “Buyers that had previously relied on imports are increasingly sourcing domestically or regionally [Mexico where viable].”
