Although the most commonly reported spot price transaction range for
US domestic unfinished J55 ERW oil country
tubular goods (OCTG) casing is unchanged in the past week, still at $59.00-$61.00 cwt. ($1,300-$1344/mt or $1,180-$1,220/nt), ex-Midwest mill, SteelOrbis sources say mills are pushing to get prices higher. Seamless OCTG prices are on the rise, as mills have announced a $5.00 cwt. ($110/mt or $100/nt) price increase, and despite ERW producers being more strongly focused on programs than they are on the spot market, if the pending antidumping and countervailing duty case against certain offshore producers does indeed lead to high margins, unfinished J55 ERW OCTG casing prices could tick upward as well.
In term of offshore offerings, prices from Korean and Taiwanese mills have also trended neutral in the past week, and futures offers from second and third-tier mills are still being quoted at approximately $42.50-$43.50 cwt. ($937-$959/mt or $850-$870/nt), DDP loaded truck
US Gulf coast ports. As in previous weeks, offers from first-tier mills continue to be quoted as much as $4.00-$5.00 cwt. ($88-$110/mt or $80-$100/nt) higher. Trader sources say there is increased concern in terms of orders that haven’t shipped yet, as many are wondering what the ITC’s final decision will be.