Analysis
June 24, 2026
HARDI: Galvanized market finds strong prices, consistent demand
Written by Kristen DiLandro
Galvanized sheet buyers and distributors report that strong demand and constrained supply persist, exerting upward pressure on prices.
During the monthly HARDI sheet metal and air-handling call on Tuesday, participants described conditions consistent with the previous month’s call, in which they reported dwindling product availability, increasing demand, logistics headaches, and escalating prices.
During the June 23 call, participants said shipping and logistics remain problematic.
Market outlook
Unanimously, callers participating in the feedback portion of the discussion agreed that supply is tight, lead times are long, inventories became leaner, and late shipments (while improving) remain a reality.
During the informal polling portion of the call, none of the callers forecasted that galvanized product prices would decrease within the next 30 days. Half of the participants (50%) believe prices will increase by $2 or more per hundredweight. Still others (36%) expect prices to increase by $4/cwt or higher within the next month. The remaining poll participants (14%) expect prices to stay flat or fluctuate by up to $2/cwt in either direction.
The six-month price predictions revealed a slightly more cautious outlook. Most participants (38%) anticipate little change to price levels, expecting them to hover around current levels with a range of ~$2/cwt. Poll participants with a bullish outlook remain split on how much prices will increase: 15% say prices will increase by more than $2/cwt, and the other 15% say prices will increase by more than $6/cwt. More bearish in their price predictions, 23% expect prices to fall by more than $2/cwt.
Looking 12 months ahead, a majority of callers polled (54%) said they expect prices to fall within the $60-69/cwt range. The next greatest percentage of respondents (23%) expect to see price levels at $50-59/cwt. Fifteen percent predict prices to be $70-79/cwt, and 8% anticipate prices will range $80-89/cwt.
Caller sentiment
A market participant who distributes materials said he expects buyers to panic and make defensive purchases to restock. He believes buyers are losing options; service centers have more steel on order than in stock, and he contends that mills have the upper hand.
“Demand is stronger than expected. Buyers are actually pulling materials instead of delaying purchases. Consumption is accelerating faster than expected after spring,” he explained.
He, like others on the call, didn’t experience flexibility with mills. Most callers noted that mills have not had to negotiate prices because buyers remain desperate to supply customers. He predicts conditions will hold into the fall.
Another HVAC caller echoed similar sentiments. He said that he’s confident prices will continue to hold through November. He expressed discomfort with current inventory levels but said revenue and volumes have increased over the quarter and exceed y/y levels.
One caller highlighted how mills could be experiencing delays and inefficiencies as products that were once filled with imports might be redirected toward these same domestic producers.
“I wonder whether or not some materials that would have come from imports, mills are now producing domestically, if that could be having an impact on some of the normal product you see on the HVAC side…I question whether that is what’s slowing down their production,” he said.
