US plate buyers boycott the second round of price increases from steel mills, mainly due to service centers intent to digest inventory and sell the plates with price below mills offer. Meanwhile, this year the import resources continued to put pressure on theUSmarket, the steel price increases again would force buyers turned to purchase imported resources.

Currently, theUSsoutheastern mills quoted the A36 steel plate ex-factory price at USD580-590 / short ton, plate import offers are at usd 480-520 / short ton (CIF Houston).

In addition, the US market has been close to the traditional off-season of demand, even if the US government restricts imports of plate, in view of the service center inventories keep high, steel mills shorten delivery time, the stock market will not be rapid decline in the short term, price increase is still a difficulty.

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