Despite looming suspicion that import sales prices for API X-42 electric resistance welded (ERW) line pipe will begin to soften, the sideways pricing trend has sustained. Trader sources have said that while there is still an expectation that the nine countries named in the AD/CVD case against oil country tubular goods (OCTG) will shift their focus to offering line pipe, which will cause downward pricing pressure due to increased competition, these predictions have not yet come to fruition. At the current time, import offer prices for API X-42 ERW line pipe to the US from Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam are unchanged in the approximate range of $40.50-$41.50 cwt. ($893-$915/mt or $810-$830/nt) DDP loaded truck in US Gulf ports.
Meanwhile, the US domestic spot prices have also held steady. The most commonly reported transaction range is still $54.00-$55.00 cwt. ($1,191-$1,212/mt or $1,080-$1,100/nt) ex-Midwest mill, unchanged in the past week. Industry insiders continue to report that this range has plenty of wiggle room, especially for high volume orders. Lead times have held at about four weeks, while demand remains slow but steady.