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    Contributor: Laura Miller

    Laura Miller

    Read more from Laura Miller

    Galvanized buyers report severe supply strain

    Service centers and manufacturers on the Sept. 15 HARDI Sheet Metal and Air Handling Council call described a tight, seller-driven market. Lead times are long, deliveries are late, inventories are thin, imports are down, and demand is strong, causing a shortage of galvanized material. SMU regularly joins the council’s meetings to discuss the galvanized sheet market. Participants — members of Heating, Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) — are wholesalers, service centers, distributors, and manufacturers who buy or sell galvanized steel.

    US adjusts duties on Korean CR

    The US Department of Commerce has adjusted the countervailing duties on cold-rolled steel products from Korea. In the final results of an administrative review of the 2023 calendar year, Commerce assigned subsidy rates of 1.28% for Hyundai Steel and 3.64% for Posco. These differ slightly from the previous rates of 2.21% for Hyundai and 1.47% for Posco. Last year, South Korea sent 87,928 metric tons of cold-rolled sheet to the US, according to US import data. Year-to-date shipments through July are 56,331 mt.

    Mexico targets Japanese plate in new dumping case

    Mexico has formally opened an anti-dumping investigation into imports of cut-to-length steel plate from Japan. Mexico’s Ministry of Economy launched the trade case after a complaint by Grupo Acerero (GASA). GASA, a San Luis Potosi-based steel producer, alleges price discrimination and injury to the Mexican industry, according to the announcement in Mexico’s Official Gazette of the Federation. The case targets hot-rolled, uncoated, non-coil carbon steel plate in sheet form, at least 4.75 mm thick and 600 mm wide.