US import rebar and wire rod prices were mostly flat again this week amid limited mid-month domestic demand, even as preliminary import data suggests monthly rebar and wire rod imports from abroad may have plunged during the first part of September, market insiders told SteelOrbis this week.
While end-of month import data remains unavailable for yet another week, preliminary data from the Washington, D.C.-based International Trade Administration (ITA) shows September rebar imports plunged to a mere 8,967 mt, off from on average 60,000-70,000 tons per month, insiders said, while wire rod imports lagged at 21,936 mt, off from on average 80,000-90,000 tons per month. During August, 2025, ITA import data reported end-month rebar imports of 57,812 mt, while wire rod imports amounted to 91,331 mt.
In the rebar pricing segment, import rebar on a loaded truck basis on the US Gulf Coast is discussed unchanged at $43.00-45/cwt., ($860-900/nt or $948-992/mt), depending on the size of the customer, with most transactions averaging steady at $44.50/cwt. ($890/nt or $981/mt). While pricing remained stable for yet another week, insiders say another potential rebar price increase from domestic mills might be forthcoming. “The rebar pricing offers we saw recently at $41.00/cwt., seem to be disappearing,” the importer said a week earlier. “Even though the markets remain sluggish and prices remain flat.”
On the US East Coast, import rebar maintains its slight premium to the US Gulf Coast at $43-46/cwt., owing to reduced August imports, with the weekly SteelOrbis average steady at $45.00/cwt., ($900/nt or $992/mt). Importers said lower August imports are the primary reason for the East Coast price premium over the Gulf Coast.
Since steel import tariffs of 50 percent went into effect in June for the US’ primary suppliers Canada and Mexico, insiders tell SteelOrbis that domestic long steel supply, especially specific rebar sizes, has remained more limited. Wire rod supply has only recently been increasing as Peoria, Illinois-based Liberty Steel continues to ramp up production.
“Imports are looking quite a bit lower for September due largely to the ongoing tariffs,” said one Gulf Coast long steel importer. “While the month isn’t yet over yet, if September continues along this trajectory, we’re expecting to see a significant decreases for long steel imports.”
“Prices held steady for a third straight week,” remarked another Gulf Coast importer to SteelOrbis. “Tight supply remains the main (price) driver,” he said. “Mills across the Midwest, South, and East are basically sold out, forcing some fabricators to trade among themselves just to cover jobs. This scarcity givers suppliers leverage.”
This week’s import long steel assessment differs little from a week earlier when market participants reported a general tightening of domestic rebar supply, with little relief seen until Q1 2026 when importers said they could resume the movement of import tonnages into the US from abroad. At present, importers tell SteelOrbis limited supplies of rebar and to a lesser extent wire rod are available on the US Gulf Coast from Vietnam and Egypt, though those supplies “could dry up soon too.”
The insider said he continues to hear “lukewarm demand” projections for Asian long steel arrivals in early 2026.
“In early 2026, if (demand) unexpectedly picks up, some of the domestic mills could struggle meeting supply requirements,” the Gulf Coast insider said. “But, mostly we’re hearing that this might be wishful thinking on the part of suppliers, as everyone was saying earlier this year that the second half of 2025 would be better for demand.”
In the import wire rod segment, insiders said a combination of low domestic demand and increasing supply as domestic supplier Liberty Steel continues to ramp up local wire rod production, leaves little room for imports to challenge domestic suppliers. And, with domestic supply priced on average little changed at $47/cwt., ($940/nt or $1,036/mt), current US Gulf Coast imports quotes at $42.75-45.00/cwt., remain largely unattractive.
“There’s really not many people looking for wire rods at the moment,” the importer said. “Lukewarm demand is seen for the earliest January arrivals into the US from Asia.”
