US domestic, import rebar prices unchanged in sluggish market
Published by:Melissa VanDervort<>
21 May 2025 @ 21:16 UTC

US domestic and import rebar prices were steady on Wednesday May 21, with sources reporting continued average demand and buyer reluctance in an uncertain market. Fastmarkets assessed the price of steel reinforcing bar (rebar), fob mill US at $39 per hundredweight ($780 per short ton) on Wednesday, flat since going up by 5.41% on February 12 from $37 per cwt on February 5.
Fastmarkets’ assessment of steel reinforcing bar (rebar), import, loaded truck Port of Houston for immediate delivery was $720-760 per ton on Wednesday, flat after widening upward on April 30 from $720-740 per ton on April 23.
While demand in the rebar and general construction markets is considered stable, sources said activity remains below average for the beginning of the summer construction season — typically a bustling period for market participants.
Demand is good, but not as busy as it should be this time of year, a buyer said. I think there is a lot of uncertainty in the [rebar] market, [and it is] making everyone a little nervous.
A trader shared a similar view, saying, Demand in the domestic rebar market feels steady, but definitely a bit softer than what we’d typically expect for this time of year. Activity is somewhat uneven — some regions are maintaining momentum due to ongoing infrastructure or public works projects, while others are noticeably slower.
The trader said many factors are impacting activity in the market, including excess inventory levels and cautious buyer sentiment among market participants.
Many customers placed early orders ahead of the March [Section 232] tariff implementation, and they’re now working through that stock, which is slowing down new order activity, the trader said. There’s [also] still hesitation in the market due to economic uncertainty, softening scrap prices and unclear signals on how tariffs and trade policy will evolve. This has led many buyers to take a wait-and-see approach.
The spread between shredded scrap and domestic rebar was $440.71 per ton on Wednesday, up by 8.82% from $405.00 per ton on May 7, due to the decline in the shredded scrap price.
Fastmarkets’ monthly assessment of the steel scrap shredded auto scrap, consumer buying price, delivered mill Chicago was assessed at $380 per gross ton ($339.29 per short ton) on May 9, down by 9.52% from $420 per gross ton ($375 per short ton) on April 9.
Lead times are reported at three to four weeks, sources said.