American steel market: mixed. The benchmark steel price index of 139.6 in the region rose by 0.2% on weekdays (from flat to higher), down 0.1% month-on-month (from flat to down), and rose by 1.1% year-on-year (from flat to higher), up 13.4% year-on-year.

Flat material: market prices are mixed. In the United States, the latest hot-rolled coils are priced at US$765/ton, the cold-rolled coils are priced at US$915/ton, and the standard slabs are ex-works at US$1,060/ton, up US$5-10/ton. In terms of imports, as of April 10, the US import price of hot rolled coils was US$760/tonne (CIF), up by US$5/ton from the end of last month. The import price of cold rolled coils was US$860/ton, up by US$10/ton. The import price of standard slabs is US$925/ton, down by US$5/ton.

In terms of long products: the market price has risen steadily. In the United States, although the long products market is flat, recent prices have rebounded slightly. As of April 10, the rebar import price was $750/tonne (cif), up $22/ton from the previous one. Net wire rods are 832 US dollars / ton (cif), unchanged from the previous. Small sections of steel 838 US dollars / ton (cif), up 10 US dollars / ton.

In terms of trade relations: (1) On April 1, the US Department of Commerce issued a notice stating that a second anti-dumping and countervailing sunset review investigation was initiated on the circular carbon line pipe imported from China. At the same time, the US International Trade Commission initiated a second anti-dumping and countervailing sunset review of industrial damage investigations on the ring carbon pipeline imported from China; (2) On April 5, the US International Trade Commission imported from mainland China. The carbon alloy steel screws of India, Taiwan and Thailand made preliminary rulings on anti-dumping industry damage, and made preliminary rulings on counter-subsidy industry damages for products imported from China and India, and ruled on products suspected of government subsidies and dumping. Substantial damage has been caused to the domestic industry in the United States. Based on the affirmative ruling of the US International Trade Commission, the US Department of Commerce is expected to make a preliminary anti-subsidy ruling on May 17, 2019, and an anti-dumping preliminary ruling on July 31, 2019. (3) On April 5, the Mexican Ministry of Economic Affairs issued an announcement in the official gazette, and the application of the local enterprises OutokumpuMexinox, SA de CV decided to initiate an anti-dumping investigation on cold-rolled stainless steel plates originating in China and Taiwan; (4) On April 9, the WTO Commission on Safeguards issued a notification on safeguards submitted to it by the Canadian delegation on April 5, 2019. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal has finalized safeguard measures for imported steel products, including thick steel plates, concrete reinforcements and wire rods. It is recommended to impose a three-year additional tariff on thick steel plates and stainless steel wires exceeding a certain import volume.

Summary: According to the operating situation combined with the fundamental situation, the recent US steel market may continue to horizontally sort out the trend.