US domestic A-53 electric resistance welded (ERW) black plain end (BPE) Grade A spot prices have firmed slightly again in the last couple weeks to the range of $50.00-$51.00 cwt. ($1,102-$1,124/mt or $1,000-$1,020/nt) ex-Midwest mill--an increase of $1.00 cwt. ($22/mt or $20/nt) on the low end from two weeks ago. However, lingering deals still remain slightly under the range. Although current spot prices are about $2.00 cwt. ($44/mt or $40/nt) shy of official asking prices, service center sources tell SteelOrbis that mills are trying to hold onto the increase they've attained over the past few weeks rather than try to push spot prices even higher. Even though demand levels are decent, there is uncertainty regarding whether the recent softening of domestic flats prices will spill over into the welded pipe market sooner rather than later.
As for imports, according to trader sources, although there is a US dumping investigation against standard pipe from UAE and Oman, mills in both countries were still taking last-minute orders from the US over the past couple months, and the orders were "safe" so long as they shipped by early March; however, now that those offers have dried up, US-buyers are turning to other viable options such as Korea, Taiwan, and Turkey. Korean and Taiwanese offers are unchanged from early February and are still $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.