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    Analysis

    March 6, 2026

    Price gap between US CR, most imports narrows

    Written by David Schollaert

    Cold-rolled (CR) coil prices ticked up in the US this week, matching a similar trend seen in most offshore markets.

    CR imports from Germany, Italy, and Japan on a landed basis remain much more expensive than domestic product. But South Korean imports remain competitive, in theory, even with the 50% Section 232 tariff.

    David Schollaert

    David Schollaert is deputy editor-in-chief for Steel Market Update. David joined SMU after more than a decade in the metals and mining industry in a myriad of different roles. Much of his early experience and expertise were within the coverage and analysis of steel-making raw materials and served previously as senior editor of the CRU Prices Service. Most recently, however, before his return to market analysis, David held roles as a metals buyer and an operations manager for raw material suppliers. He can be contacted at david@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-720-1008.

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