US domestic standard pipe mills have been successful in pushing up A-53 electric resistance welded (ERW) black plain end (BPE) Grade A spot prices higher again in the last couple weeks. Sources tell SteelOrbis that the $1.00 cwt. ($22/mt or $20/nt) bump in spot prices since mid-January is mostly a reflection of previous increases in domestic flat rolled steel prices, but decent demand levels are also giving pipe mills more leverage to raise prices. Nonetheless, current spot prices in the range of $49.00-$51.00 cwt. ($1,080-$1,124/mt or $980-$1,020/nt) ex-Midwest mill are still below official asking prices which are approximately $52.00-$53.00 cwt. ($1,146-$1,168/mt or $1,040-$1,060/nt) ex-mill.
While mills may be able to push prices to the higher end of current spot levels, it's uncertain as to whether prices can increase much further unless flats prices increase as well--and in the last couple weeks, the flat rolled market's uptrend has stalled and prices stagnated. Less expensive offers from offshore are also tempering domestic mills' price push. Korean A-53 BPE Grade A standard pipe offer prices to the US are unchanged in the last two weeks at $44.00-$45.00 cwt. ($970-$992/mt or $880-$900/nt) DDP loaded truck in US Gulf ports with Turkish prices about $0.50 cwt. ($11/mt or $10/nt) higher. Taiwan is also offering ERW galvanized plain end (GPE) Grade A standard pipe to the US between $54.50-$55.50 cwt. ($1,202-$1,224/mt or $1,090-$1,110/nt) DDP loaded truck in US Gulf ports.