Recent mill price hikes have continued to drive up high-carbon wire rod prices in the United States, while rising ferrous scrap costs have boosted cold-heading quality (CHQ) wire rod prices.
Fastmarkets' assessment for steel wire rod (high carbon), fob mill US, rose to $35 per hundredweight on Friday December 20, up 2.9% from $34 per cwt one month earlier.Over the same pricing period, Fastmarkets' concurrent assessment for steel wire rod cold-heading quality, ddp, climbed to $38 per cwt from $36.50 previously.Market overviewMill price announcements have lifted high-carbon wire rod prices for the second consecutive month amid increasing demand, according to sources. "[I] expect...