US import long steel pricing remained mostly stable again this week, even as domestic prices continued to show strength as domestic supply continues to shrink; the result of continuing 50 percent steel tariffs, market insiders told SteelOrbis this week. Importers said continued domestic price increases could soon make imports once again a viable supply option, though most domestic mills are expected to remain fiercely competitive on price.
On the US Gulf Coast, import rebar pricing on a loaded truck basis was reported steady to earlier levels at $44.00-46.00/cwt., ($880-920/nt or $970-1,014/mt), though still up from $44.00-45.50/cwt., ($880-910/nt or $970-1,003/mt) a month ago as reports surfaced of shrinking supply availability at Gulf Coast supply warehouses.
On the US East Coast, import rebar on a loaded truck basis remains at parity with the Gulf for a sixth week at $44.00-46.00/cwt., ($880-920/nt or $970-1,014/mt). Limited reports of import rebar sales are discussed near $47.00/cwt., though the higher numbers likely represent smaller customer orders, insiders said.
At current, supply and demand appear nearly balanced, insiders say, though the situation is expected to change as new domestic long steel mills ramp up production in the face of an outlook for better steel demand in 2026.
“At some point, the new [rebar and wire rod] mills will have an effect on supply, and even though scrap tends to go up in the winter and go down in the spring, higher demand to fill the new mill’s scrap piles should keep scrap pricing higher into spring,” remarked one US East Coast long steel importer. “But, any more price increases [for long steel] and the [import] ships will start sailing in.”
Another US Gulf Coast importer told SteelOrbis domestic rebar pricing in the $47-48/cwt., range ($940-960/nt or $1,036-1,058/mt), could encourage a new push for increased import shipments extending into 2026. Current deliveries for the remained of Q4, they said, could amount to a mere 50 thousand tons.
“In the Houston market, the current price range is narrowing upward,” the Gulf Coast insider added. “Imports will remain non-competitive until domestic pricing reaches $47-48.00/cwt..” Spot pricing for rebar on a loaded truck basis vicinity Houston was reported slightly higher at $43-44/cwt, up from previous estimates at $42-43/cwt., on further reductions in available Gulf Coast on-the-ground inventory.
This week, US domestic delivered rebar on an FOB Midwest mill basis traded flat at $46-47/cwt., just under the stated import insider price threshold. Some expect pricing to remain little changed near term, pending movement in December ferrous scrap pricing, following recent limited mill long and flat steel price increases.
Other importers reported to SteelOrbis they now are starting to see better weekly spot market trade, with some expecting a sizable build in imports for early 2026.
“One of my customers in the US Midwest said today that his business is excellent,” the Midwest importer said. “Rebar, merchant bar and tubing,” he said, “are all seeing excellent sales. This situation opens the gates for increased import rebar arrivals in the upcoming first quarter.”
A Midwest import insider reported limited import movements are expected near term from Turkey, South Korea, and Malaysia, though “Oman and the UAE remain in the mix,” he said. “China is still driving pricing out of Asia, and their values remain pretty low,” he added. “There really needs to be $2.00-3.00/cwt., difference between domestic and import rebar pricing just to get anything to move in to the US, however, right now markets are not so concerned with just pricing, but more so, about the availability of supply.”
On the import wire rod front, US Gulf Coast import pricing for wire rod mesh on a DDP loaded truck basis remains steady at $42.00-43.00/cwt., ($840-860/nt or $926-948/mt). While some insiders told SteelOrbis they expect wire rod pricing to advance on par with rising rebar values, others think wire rod pricing could remain fairly flat through the balance of 2025.
“Next year we’re likely to see more supply from newly-built production facilities hit the market, but right now, output from Nucor, North Carolina and Hybar in Arkansas, are not really having any impact on prices, as they continue to slowly ramp up production,” the Midwest import insider said.