Steel rebar prices in Honduras have not changed since the end of August, when the country saw its latest increases, sources said Thursday.
Current spot prices for rebar in Honduras are around $800/mt delivered, according to the Honduran construction trade group Chico.
Distributors confirmed prices for 3/8-inch rebar, commonly used by the construction industry in Honduras. "Steel players expected prices to increase even further," one distributor said.
At the same time last year prices were around $600/mt delivered. According to sources, higher prices in 2017 are due to international steel prices and an antidumping duty of 15% for countries outside Central America.
The country has an active antidumping measure of 15% on all types of imported rebar to protect its local industry; however, local players want the government to increase the percentage to 35%, mainly aimed at Asian imports.
The country's average steel consumption is around 340,000 mt/year, which accounts for both flat and long steel products.
Honduras is home to two mills: Aceros Alfa, which produces mainly rebar and has an installed capacity of 200,000 mt/year; and Aceros Centro Caribe, which produces rebar, sections and sheet, with installed capacity of 36,000 mt/year of steel products.
