US flat steel import tags hit records; supply tight

US flat steel import prices have again climbed to record highs, with buyers in the United States competing with those in other countries to purchase material in a tight global market.

"Imports are getting more and more attention, but there is not a lot of availability," an East Coast distributor said.
Fastmarkets' assessment for steel hot-rolled coil, import, ddp Houston was at $1,650-1,700 per short ton ($82.50-85.00 per hundredweight) on Wednesday July 7, up by 3.08% from $1,600-1,650 per ton on June 23 and the highest level on record since 1990.

Exports from South Korea, Mexico and Canada can be competitive with material from US mills because they are not subject to Section 232 tariffs,...

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