Last week, US domestic standard pipe producers announced they would be raising prices on A53 Grade B standard pipe by $2.00 cwt. ($44/mt or $40/nt), effective with all new orders.
Prior to the increase announcement, prices for A53 Grade B ERW BPE standard pipe were trending in the range of $52.50-$53.50 cwt. ($1,157-$1,179/mt or $1,050-$1,070/nt), ex-mill.
Although the current range still holds, sources close to SteelOrbis have indicated that deals toward the lower end of the range are only available to volume buyers, and that those who are purchasing smaller tonnages are now paying “slightly more.”
The increase has been slow to gain steam, sources note, due to the slowness in acceptance of the recent US HRC price increase. It is, however, believed that price momentum is now pointing upward.