Prices for imported hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel coil in the United States surged on Wednesday December 9 to the highest levels in more than two years, as buyers scrambled to find supply amid speculation that further increases are coming.
"Import volumes are limited," a West Coast distributor said. "With tariffs and dumping suits you aren't seeing a lot of imports arrive. I think domestic producers like the present status quo." Fastmarkets' assessment for steel hot-rolled coil, import, ddp Houston was $740-800 per short ton ($37-40 per hundredweight) on December 9, up 7.7% from $680-750 per ton on November 25 and the highest level since reaching $740-820 per ton on October 31, 2018.The range represents offer and deals from South Korea and Turkey that are scheduled to arrive...