India's Galvalume market remained firm, with gains in February and into late March as weekly assessments showed strength. Producers with captive hot-rolled coil operated near normal, sustaining steady availability while demand firmed across end users. The mid-month period saw stronger procurement from government-linked housing projects and warehouse fabricators, with late-month data confirming an uptick and a bias toward higher spot levels amid upstream costs and logistical frictions. The construction segment remained the core engine, supporting roofing panels, cladding and pre-finished corrosion-resistant products, buoyed by housing and infrastructure budgets. Appliance makers and colour-coated panel users contributed support as mills shifted toward higher-warranty coated grades, tightening spot availability. Upstream dynamics and logistics pressures, including input costs on aluminium and zinc-aluminium and elevated energy and freight costs, reinforced conversion costs. Rail congestion and inland delays enabled mills to pass through logistics premia, while import flows remained mixed. The near-term outlook favors firmness through spring with a risk of moderation ahead of the monsoon.
