Although Korean and Taiwanese OCTG mills are accepting orders for August/September production, which would allow import buyers in the Western hemisphere to receive shipments in January of next year, trader sources say that “mills really aren’t offering anything to the
US because no one knows what’s going to happen with the Section 232 investigation.”
Although some believe the DOC announcement will not come before the July recess, others speculate the announcement could come “late Friday, when everyone has left work, or on Monday July 3 when no one will be paying attention due to the 4th of July holiday.”
There is further concern that Section 232 tariffs could make importing steel to the
US “completely impossible.”
The last-heard pricing for
US import J55 ERW OCTG casing from Korea in the
US domestic market was $42.50-$44.00 cwt. ($937-$970/mt or $850-$880/nt), DDP loaded truck in
US Gulf coast ports, before applicable duties from the already-decided antidumping case, while previously heard offers for
US import J55 ERW OCTG casing from Taiwan in the
US domestic were heard $0.50 cwt. ($11/mt or $10/nt) below the Korean pricing range.