Competition is so intense, however, that no buyer or vendor can constantly dominate the sale of a given grade. So far, the flow of imports coming up the Mississippi River system hasn't significantly affected the Chicago market, although direct and multimodal shipments of less-expensive domestic scrap now are routinely delivered to mills in Iowa and downstate Illinois. One major processor also has tested the viability of importing scrap through the Great Lakes. Imported pig iron routinely reaches mills and foundries in all parts of the area, including central Wisconsin. In contrast, the Houston market is much smaller in terms of tonnage and the number of grades transacted.
Demand is relatively inconsistent.
None is considered a local user, and their presence in the marketplace is much less constant than the Chicago-area mills'. A Mexican mill occasionally enters the market, but only if it hasn't been able to satisfy its needs in western Texas markets. Price levels are lower than those in the Chicago market. Competition is lively, but there simply aren't as many contenders for sales as in Chicago.