Source report no change in demand or offer prices within the US import wire rod market over the last week, although market players are paying close attention to news that the US International Trade Commission is continuing the AD/CVD investigation into wire mesh imports from Mexico.
If wire mesh becomes subject to substantial duties, sources say it could boost the market for imported wire rod that could then be manufactured into mesh in the US at a lower cost than finished imported mesh. However, sources also note that with demand for wire rod overall in the US remaining depressed, the result of the trade case “won’t matter as much if things stay this way.”
As for current US import wire rod offers, prices remain stable this week at $26.00-$27.00 cwt. ($573-$595/mt or $520-$540/nt) DDP loaded truck in US Gulf ports from Germany.