For the most part, the
US domestic and import hollow structural sections (HSS) market has “kept on keeping on” since our last report two weeks ago, as little, if anything has changed. Sources close to SteelOrbis say that while the market is hardly robust (as a seasonal summer slowdown is typical), order activity and inquiries are steady, although they’re “nothing to write home about”. And, despite
US Steel rolling out an “effective immediately” $1.25 cwt. ($28/mt or $25/nt) price increase last week for all flats products, the announcement has come and gone without anyone batting an eye, and other flats mills did not follow suit. For now, flats products pricing have remained just that--flat--meaning little chance of the move affecting the HSS market.
In terms of the most commonly reported
US domestic HSS spot price transaction price, that also remains neutral, still at approximately $47.00-$48.00 cwt. ($1,036-$1,058/mt or $940-$960/nt) ex-Midwest mill, although deals up to $0.50 cwt. ($11/mt or $10/nt) may be available for the largest of customers. Looking offshore, futures prices from
Turkey and
Korea have also remained steady, and are still reported as being in the approximate range of $37.50-$38.50 cwt. ($827-$849/mt or $750-$770/nt) DDP loaded truck
US Gulf coast ports.