The US domestic and import line pipe markets continue to face the same problems they have been facing all year. Orders and activity remain steady, according to SteelOrbis sources, but “things are just slow all around,” according to a Midwest-based source.
Not surprisingly, prices are steady across the board, although anyone who is looking to book anything significant could easily negotiate a better deal. US domestic spot prices continue to hold in the approximate range of $45.00-$46.00 cwt. ($992-$1,014/mt or $900-$920/nt), ex-Midwest mill while futures prices out of Vietnam and Taiwan continue to hold at approximately $35.00 -$36.00 cwt. ($772-$794/mt or $700-$720/nt), DDP loaded truck in US Gulf coast ports. Offer prices from Korean producers for API X-42 ERW line pipe are trending between $1.00-$2.50 cwt. ($22-$55/mt or $20-$50/nt) below Vietnamese and Taiwanese offers, depending on whether the offer price is from a first or third-tier mill.