Short lead times and supply levels that continue to outpace demand continue to be the biggest hindrance for US domestic API X-42 line pipe prices. Although the most commonly reported transaction range has not wavered in the past seven days, at approximately $51.00-$52.00 cwt. ($1,124-$1,146/mt or $1,020-$1,040/nt) ex-Midwest mill, SteelOrbis sources say they are aware of deals being transacted as much as $2.00 cwt. ($44/mt or $40/nt) below that range on larger orders.
Meanwhile, trader sources say there is also flexibility when it comes to offshore prices for import API X-42 from Vietnam and Taiwan. The most commonly reported transaction range may be unchanged, still at approximately $38.50-$39.50 cwt. ($849-$871/mt or $770-$790/nt) DDP loaded truck US Gulf coast ports from both countries, but deals below that range are only available to those looking to book the largest of orders. In terms of recently arriving tons, the most recent US Steel Monitoring Import and Analysis (SIMA) data show that for the month of March, the most significant offshore source for import tons of line pipe to the US was Korea, at 36,842 mt (license data), with the second largest importer being Germany, at 20,001 mt (license data).