Spot pricing within the US domestic API X-42 electric resistance welded (ERW) line pipe market may be unchanged in the past week, but US domestic mills are feeling downward pricing pressure from offshore. The most commonly reported domestic spot transaction range is still $54.00-$55.00 cwt. ($1,191-$1,212/mt or $1,080-$1,100/nt) ex-mill, but deals as much as $3.00-$5.00 cwt. ($66-$110/mt or $60-$100/nt) below that range are easily attainable on larger orders.
Offshore, the average sales prices in the US for import API X-42 ERW line pipe from Taiwan, Korea, India and Vietnam are also unchanged in the past week and are still in the approximate range of $43.50-$44.50 ($1,191-$1,202/mt or $870-$880/nt) DDP loaded truck in US Gulf ports. At the same time, trader sources have indicated that at least one Korean mill is being very aggressive with pricing for customers booking higher volume orders. Deals between $2.00-$3.00 cwt. ($44-$66/mt or $40-$60/nt) below the above offer range are available to traders on larger orders; still, traders are only booking what they need to fill inventory gaps.