US domestic, import rebar prices rise sharply following mill price hikes
Published by:Melissa VanDervort<>
11 Jun 2025 @ 20:32 UTC

US domestic and import rebar prices jumped on Wednesday June 11, driven by recent across-the-board increases, while sources described market demand as subdued. Fastmarkets assessed the price of steel reinforcing bar (rebar), fob mill US at $42 per hundredweight ($840 per short ton) on Wednesday, up by 7.69% from $39 per cwt on June 4.
Fastmarkets’ assessment of steel reinforcing bar (rebar), import, loaded truck Port of Houston for immediate delivery was $780-840 per ton ($39-42 per cwt) on Wednesday, rising from $720-760 per ton on June 4.
Rebar manufacturer CMC announced a price increase of $3 per cwt in a customer letter on Thursday June 5, followed by Gerdau Long Steel North America on Friday June 6and Nucor on Monday June 9, with identical price hikes on standard sizes. However, Nucor did not match and seek an additional $40 per ton for the 20-foot length bars like its competitors.
Most market participants said the recent price increases were a result of the doubling of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium, which took effect on June 4.
The 50% Section 232 tariffs have significantly reduced the competitiveness of incoming shipments, allowing domestic mills to raise prices with less resistance, a trader said.
A rebar buyer said that underlying demand in the market remains lackluster, despite the price hikes.
The [Section 232] tariffs are the only driver [for price increases], [and] I think [this new] pricing will stick as long as the administration holds the line on these tariffs, the buyer said. Demand [in the rebar market] is still lousy and seems to be actually slowing further. I hear of more stalled and delayed [construction] projects that were part of the already weak action.
A second buyer shared a similar view, saying, Demand is still soft and we are slow. The jobs we do get in are small and seem to ship quickly. Large jobs that will go out awhile are not being awarded. Who knows about tariffs — the [rebar] market needs clarity on what will actually happen [in the future].
The spread between domestic rebar and No1 heavy melt Chicago scrap was $558.75 per ton on Wednesday, up by 12.03% from $498.75 per ton on June 4, due to the increase in the domestic rebar price.
Fastmarkets’ monthly assessment of the steel scrap No1 heavy melt, delivered mill Chicago was assessed at $315 per gross ton ($281.25 per short ton) on Thursday, flat from May 9, but down by 11.27% from $355 per gross ton ($316.96 per short ton) on April 9.
Lead times are at three to four weeks, sources said.