The $2.00 cwt. ($44/mt or $40/nt) price increase announcement that was rolled out by US domestic standard pipe producers in late-February came and went without fanfare.
As such, spot market prices for A53 Grade B ERW BPE standard pipe continue to hold in the range of $52.50-$53.50 cwt. ($1,157-$1,179/mt or $1,050-$1,070/nt), ex-mill.
In our last report a month ago, SteelOrbis reported that the increase announcement had been slow to gain steam, as US flat rolled steel producers had failed to push US HRC prices higher. That trend continues to remain steady today; as such, buyers and sellers of Grade A and Grade B standard pipe say they’re not entirely surprised that prices within those markets did not firm.
Demand is steady, but unexciting, sources note, adding that prices are unlikely to climb in the short-term in the absence of an unforeseen market event.