High-carbon wire rod prices in the United States have fallen due to weaker market conditions, while cold-heading quality (CHQ) wire rod defied similar downward pressure to post gains alongside higher raw material costs.
Fastmarkets assessed steel wire rod (high carbon), fob mill US, at $37 per hundredweight ($740 per short ton) on Friday August 16, down by 1.3% from $37.50 per cwt one month ago and off by 10.3% from $41.25 per cwt one year ago. Fastmarkets' assessment for steel wire rod cold-heading quality, ddp, increased by 2.5% to $40.50 per cwt from $39.50 per cwt a month ago but fell by 12% from six-year high of $46 per cwt reached in late February. Fastmarkets' assessment for steel scrap No1 busheling, consumer buying price, delivered mill Chicago - a key feedstock for CHQ wire...