The most recent data from the US Department of Commerce shows that for the month of August, the US imported 59,592 mt (license data) of structural pipe and tube from global sources; in contrast, the US imported 34,592 mt (census data) in August 2016.
Spot market prices, however, are up substantially year-over-year. At current, the most commonly heard spot market price for US domestic hollow structural sections (HSS) tubing is still holding at $48.50-$50.00 cwt. ($1069-$1102/mt or $970-$1000/nt), ex-mill; in mid-September 2016, SteelOrbis reported prices were trending at $41-$43 cwt. ($904-$948/mt or $820-$860/nt), ex-Midwest mill.
SteelOrbis sources note that current price points seem ahead of market fundamentals, and with HSS demand being “decent but hardly superb,” some price retreating could be seen before the end of the year.