Prices within the
US domestic hollow structural sections (HSS)
tubing market has seemed to have leveled out in the past two weeks, after a mid-December $1.00 cwt. ($22/mt or $20/nt) price increase was fully accepted by buyers. That having been said, the most commonly reported spot price range has held steady in the past two weeks and is still in the approximate range of $48.50-$49.50 ($1,069-$1,091/mt or $970-$990/nt) ex-Midwest mill. Order activity and inquires have picked up since the beginning of the year, according to service center sources, and this increased pace is expected to continue through January.
Meanwhile, prices for import HSS from
Korea and
Turkey have also held steady in the past two weeks and are still reported to be in the approximate range of $37.00-$38.00 cwt. ($816-$838/mt or $740-$760/nt) DDP loaded truck in
US Gulf ports. Interest in offshore HSS continues to run high, although trader sources believe that Korean and Turkish mills may start to increase prices. But as long as the price differential between domestic and import is so substantial, slight upticks in offshore HSS
tubing is not expected to discourage buyers.