Prices for
US domestic A-53 electric resistance welded (ERW) black plain end (BPE) Grade A standard pipe have held steady in the past two weeks, unaffected by previous
US domestic hot rolled coil (HRC) increases. However, depending on the effectiveness of another flats increase announced this week, standard pipe mills may try to give their own failed price increase from last month a second go. Until the forecast for flats is clear, steady yet unexciting market demand has left
US domestic standard pipe prices in the range of $45.00-$46.00 cwt. ($992-$1,014/mt or $900-$920/nt) ex-Midwest mill.
Meanwhile, all is still relatively quiet on the import front. Offers prices for A-53 ERW BPE Grade A standard pipe to the
US from Vietnam and
Korea continue to be seen 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, unchanged in the past two weeks. Interest in bookings is still relatively weak, according to trader sources, because lead times are long and as it stands, margins are just too slim.