Although overall interest in US import rebar is not robust, order activity is “chugging along,” sources tell SteelOrbis, with a slight bump in purchases reported after US domestic rebar mills announced a price increase earlier this month. According to the latest US steel import data, 76,620 mt of import rebar permits were recorded so far in January (as of Jan. 27), compared to 41,379 mt in December (preliminary census data). However, the total this month is still far below January 2019 levels, which reached 116,371 mt.
Although more import rebar has hit US ports this month compared to last month, sources are not reportedly worried about position prices undercutting future order prices, as the price trend for US import rebar has been relatively steady in the last few months. US import rebar offers from Spain are unchanged this week at $29.50-$30.50 cwt. ($650-$672/mt or $590-$610/nt) DDP loaded truck at US Gulf ports, and offers from Turkey are unchanged at to $29.00-$29.50 cwt. ($639-$650/mt or $580-$590/nt) DDP loaded truck at US Gulf ports. Additionally, import rebar offers from Mexico are stable at $30.50-$32.00 cwt. ($672-$705/mt or $610-$640/nt) DDP Houston, depending on the producer.