Little, if anything has changed within the US domestic and import line pipe markets since our last report a week ago. US domestic spot market prices for API X-42 ERW line pipe are still being heard in the approximate range of $40.00-$42.00 cwt. ($882-$926/mt or $800-$840/nt), ex-Midwest mill while futures prices from Korean producers are still being heard in the approximate range of $26.50-$27.50 cwt. ($584-$606/mt or $530-$550/nt), DDP loaded truck in US Gulf coast ports.
“There really isn’t a whole lot that’s going on,” one source said, adding that while rig counts are better than they were a few months ago, the upticks have done little to kick start the market. “When you combine that, with the annual summer doldrums, there isn’t a whole lot that’s happening.”