US import rebar and wire rod pricing continued marginally higher this week on reports of continued reductions in domestic wire rod production, and because of rising prices seen in overseas long steel markets following recent market stimulus actions in China, market insiders told SteelOrbis this week.
During the week of October 7, it was reported that domestic long steel availability was expected to be reduced through the end of October at Liberty Steel’s 700,000 annual ton capacity wire and rod plant in Peoria, Illinois. Initial reports indicated output at the plant would be reduced through the end of October, because of “ongoing issues with cheap imports.” This week, however, market insiders reported to SteelOrbis that plant output could be reduced into November, or cut entirely because Liberty Steel is “in a weak financial condition” as a result of recent undisclosed issues at the facility.
“There is some concern out there that Liberty’s plant may not come back as was generally expected,” said one SteelOrbis long steel insider. “I personally, don’t think the plant will come back, because there may have been a steel spill or an accident at the facility.”
A call to the Liberty facility by SteelOrbis revealed very few details, with an inside contact at the plant reporting the unit in annual “October maintenance,” with workers taking vacations as the plant “ships out orders while work is performed on machines.” As of press time, no further information was made available by official media contact personnel, and it still remains unclear whether the plant is actually producing new steel rod and wire.
In the imported wire rod markets, pricing rose as a result of higher prices in Asia, and increased domestic demand given reduced US supply, insiders said. Insiders added imported supply could be increasingly more competitive with domestic supply as Nucor on October 16 raised wire rod pricing at facilities in the Southeast and Northeast by $1.00/cwt., or $20/nt ($22/mt). Earlier on October 10, Nucor announced $6.00/nt ($120/nt or $132/mt) price reductions for new orders from Merchant Bar Quality (MBQ) products, which include angles and other structural products. Existing confirmed orders will be price protected if shipped by October 31, Nucor said in a letter to its customers. At press time, contacts remain uncertain why Nucor reduced MBQ pricing, even as most long product pricing has been edging higher recently.
“The market sees changes in the Nucor prices as more of a list price adjustment rather than a price decrease,” said a rebar market insider reflecting on the recent Nucor actions. “They basically changed their reported list price to be more reflective of the prices customers are getting quoted in the market, because there has been so much discounting by them over the past 6-8 months.”
On the import rebar front, prices were reported higher following recent price increases in Asian markets, insiders said. Supplies to the US Gulf Coast on a loaded truck basis are discussed at $36.75-$37.50 cwt. ($735-750/nt or $810-827/mt), up from $36.50-37.50/cwt. ($730-750/nt or $805-827/mt) seven days ago. Trading remains light for US East Coast import rebar with ranges also noted at $36.75-$37.25/cwt., up from $36.00-$36.75/cwt. ($720-735/nt or $794-810/mt) one week ago.
“Imported long steel prices are up,” said another SteelOrbis market insider. “Higher Asian prices and reduced US supplies are having a short-term effect on import pricing.”
Import rebar prices from Egypt and Algeria were heard with contacts offering supply at $37.00-38.00/cwt. ($740-760/nt or $816-838/mt) versus earlier trades a week ago at $35.50-$37.00/cwt. ($710-740/nt or $783-816/mt). Import rebar from from Turkey was discussed at $36.75/cwt. ($735/nt or $810/mt), up from $36.00/cwt. (720/nt or 794/mt) one week ago. Insiders claim Turkish rebar pricing is an “odd one,” with just two mills re-selling supply, they said.
Insiders report pricing for import rebar from Bulgaria as the “price leader” at $35.75/cwt. ($715/nt or $788/mt) as sales from the nation are not subject to ongoing Section 232 trade tariffs.
Delivered rebar from Mexico vicinity Houston, Texas, is discussed at $36.25-36.75/cwt. ($725-735/nt or $799-810/mt), up about $0.25/cwt. ($5/nt) compared with an average $36.25/cwt. ($725/nt or $799/mt) one week ago.