US import long steel pricing was steady this week, as ongoing reductions in imported long steel supply appear balanced by continued slow domestic long steel demand, market insiders told SteelOrbis. And, while import pricing was little changed versus week-ago levels, the outlook for import long steel demand as markets move into early 2026 and beyond remains tenuous.
Insiders say as the colder winter months approach, many ongoing construction projects in the upper two-thirds of the US could be delayed until better weather makes construction possible early next year. The continued US government shutdown, now in its fifth week, also is said to be delaying infrastructure spending and procurement, as available funds remain unavailable. Also, with domestic rebar and wire rod prices flat for more than three months -as US mills reject price increases- import products still remain largely, non-competitive.
“If the US construction market begins to pick up, like it should in the spring, that would change the market a bit,” remarked one US East Coast rebar importer. “However, that will just cause domestic prices to rise a bit, which might make imports more viable, so mills will continue to be very careful about announcing price increases in that environment.”
On the US Gulf Coast, import rebar pricing on a loaded truck basis was reported steady to week-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) two weeks earlier amid reports of shrinking supply availability at Gulf Coast warehouses. On the US East Coast, import rebar on a loaded truck basis was steady for a fourth week at $44.00-46.00/cwt., ($880-920/nt or $970-1,014/mt). Reports of import rebar sales at $47.00/cwt., are noted, though insiders said they remain limited for now.
And, while import pricing was steady this week, some insiders say the trend is looking potentially higher.
“Long steel demand from government infrastructure projects is still not so great,” remarked another Midwest long steel insider. “And, while seasonal demand remains limited though, the market should pop eventually,” he added. “The real push we are starting to see is from AI builds and data centers. Six months ago, when we were talking about better demand coming from data centers, we did not realize that it was going to be this good.”
He continued, “Market uncertainty is starting to clear,” he said. “And, while we don’t expect that much movement in regards to trade tariffs very soon, we’re starting to see a more positive outlook from the construction side. People that have been on the fence a long time are now looking to trade.”
According to recent White House figures, about 47 percent of the approximately $1.2 trillion ($568 billion) of funds allocated under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) have been allocated to date. The funding, available to grant recipients under a five-year period, authorizes spending for infrastructure projects through the end of the fiscal year 2026, which ends on September 30.
While some SteelOrbis insiders shared a more positive outlook for domestic demand as 2026 approaches, this week’s Short Range Outlook from the International Rebar Producers and Exporters Association (IREPAS) finds little reason to celebrate.
“Prices appear stable, but confidence seems to be absent,” the report states. “Mills remain busy, but lack profitability, while buyers hold stocks, but have no appetite to buy more. The system still functions, but with less and less oxygen.”
The IREPAS outlook goes on further, “The main issue is not really demand or supply, its about who can still move material,” the report states. “The tonnages are there, but trading opportunities have shrunk and competition is relentless. China keeps exporting because it must, and, with most traditional markets closing behind protective barriers, exporters are fighting over the same limited opportunities for open trade.”
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). Insiders told SteelOrbis, they expect sizable wire mesh sales near term as the material is critical for use in US water infrastructure projects expected to increase as funding deadlines approach in Q3 2026.
On the topic of increasing US long steel productive capacity in a time of limited domestic demand, insiders said they expect no sizable oversupply situation to develop any time soon.
“We still have to see what the new capacity additions (Nucor, CMC, and Hybar) will do for the domestic rebar market as the plants continue to ramp up,” the East rebar importer said in closing. “I think the mills that can, will likely produce more higher-margin merchant bar at the expense of rebar production, so it might result in little change in the amount of rebar that’s made available to the market.”
