Sales prices in the
US for import A-53 electric resistance welded (ERW) black plain end (BPE) Grade A standard pipe from
Korea have held steady in the past two weeks and are still in the approximate range of $39.50-$40.50 cwt. ($871-$893/mt or $790-$810/nt) DDP loaded truck in
US Gulf Coast ports. Overall interest in imports is still weak, according to trader sources, because current futures margins are extremely slim. In addition, price uncertainty within the
US domestic market is forcing
US buyers to look closer to home to supply their immediate standard pipe needs. That having been said, until
US domestic prices show signs of firming, import activity will remain sluggish.
Meanwhile,
US domestic spot prices for A-53 ERW BPE Grade A standard pipe have also held at neutral. The most commonly reported transaction range is unchanged in the past two weeks at $45.00-$46.00 cwt. ($992-$1,014/mt or $900-$920/nt) ex-Midwest mill, although deals below that range can be negotiated by those interested in booking larger orders. Order activity is steady, but slow, and industry insiders tell SteelOrbis that spots would have likely slipped sometime in the last couple months if it was not increasing hot rolled coil (HRC) spot prices throughout the summer. But in the last couple weeks, the flat rolled market has shown signs of stagnation and even weakness, making standard pipe buyers increasingly wary.