The most commonly heard spot market price for US domestic hollow structural sections (HSS) tubing has firmed by $0.50 cwt. ($11/mt or $10/nt) on the bottom end since our last report two weeks ago, which brings the current average spot market transaction range to $48.50-$50.00 cwt. ($1069-$1102/mt or $970-$1000/nt), ex-mill, but market players have all eyes on this week’s flat rolled price increase announcements.
“If the flat rolled increase shows any signs of acceptance you can bet the tube mills will hop on that train,” a source said.
Another source echoed that thought, adding he believed a HSS price increase “is imminent.”