The
US domestic and import Grade A electric residence weld (ERW) black plain end (BPE) standard pipe markets have kept on trucking since our last report two weeks ago, with both service center and trader sources saying prices and purchasing activity are steady. However, some sources say that if raw materials costs start to creep upward,
US domestic standard pipe producers may try to push for higher prices as well. Meanwhile, others are certain there will be some changes to the import market in the near term, but not until after the
US DOC files a trade case against line pipe imports.
As neither of those scenarios have yet happened,
US domestic spot prices are still trending neutral in the approximate range of $47.00-$48.00 cwt. ($1,036-$1,058/mt or $940-$960/nt) ex-Midwest mill, while futures offers from
Taiwan have also held steady at approximately $38.50-$39.50 cwt. ($849-$871/mt or $770-$790/nt) DDP loaded truck in
US Gulf Coast ports. Vietnamese offers are also still available, according to trader sources, at approximately $0.50 cwt. ($11/mt or $10/nt) higher than their Taiwanese counterparts.