There has been little activity in both the US domestic and import line pipe market over the past week, and prices have remained stable. The US domestic market is under immense pressure from substantially lower-priced imports and stagnant demand levels, which, according to industry insiders, is preventing mills from feeling confident enough in the domestic market to issue an increase in line pipe prices, as they have for oil country tubular goods (OCTG) products. As such, domestic API X-42 electric resistance welded (ERW) line pipe spot prices are unchanged in the last week and can still be found between $62.00-$63.00 cwt. ($1,367-$1,389/mt or $1,240-$1,260/nt) ex- mill.
Import API X-42 ERW line pipe prices in the US from Korea are also unchanged from last week and are still $48.00-$49.00 cwt. ($1,058-$1,080/mt or $960-$980/nt) DDP loaded truck in US Gulf ports. The import line pipe market has been quiet as well, and traders tell SteelOrbis that while US buyers are still placing orders offshore, they're making smaller buys than they have previously, remaining extremely cautious.