Demand for import wire rod in the US is just as weak as demand for domestic material, but even if buyers were interested in ordering tonnage overseas for future arrival, there are fewer options available. Malaysia has “fallen off” as a main source of US import wire rod—there have been no arrivals from the country since July, even though offers reportedly continued to trickle in throughout Q3.
At this point, sources say, Germany is the main source for US import wire rod inquiries, although inquiries are still infrequent. US import wire rod offers from Germany have softened slightly in the last week, by about $0.50 cwt. ($11/mt or $10/nt), into the range of $28.50-$29.00 cwt. ($628-$639/mt or $570-$580/nt) DDP loaded truck in US Gulf ports.