Sources tell SteelOrbis that inquiries within the US import rebar market continue to trend tepid, indicating the chances are low for the market to pick up before the upcoming holiday season. In past years, import order activity continued through early to mid-December, resulting in an annual rebar import “flood” in the first quarter of the new year. But with so much uncertainty in the market regarding tariffs and potential quotas, US rebar buyers are reportedly sticking with the more “predictable” US domestic offers for their inventory needs.
Additionally, US domestic rebar offers are reportedly getting much more attractive, which has made future arrival offers for US import rebar less competitive. Ample inventory of already-arrived import rebar at US ports, meanwhile, is still a viable option for buyers, although sources say most port purchases are small in tonnage.
Offer prices, meanwhile, have trended stable in the last week, although sources say import rebar offers from Spain are vulnerable to softening due to low demand. For now, import rebar offers in the US market from Italy and Spain are still around $38.50-$39.50 cwt. ($849-$871/mt or $770-$790/nt) DDP loaded truck at US Gulf ports, while most prices for currently available inventory at the ports from the same countries remain around $36.00-$37.00 cwt. ($794-$816/mt or $720-$740/nt) DDP loaded truck in the Gulf.