Prices for raw materials and hot rolled coil may be on a slow decline, but that hasn’t stopped
US domestic hollow structural sections (HSS) producers from trying to push through a $2.00 cwt. ($44/mt or $40/nt) price increase effective immediately on new orders. Bull Moose Tube Company, however, says they won’t be asking for implementation until after 30 days.
“Demand is good, and definitely better than it was last year,” according to one Midwest-based source, “and we’re certainly upbeat as we move toward 2015.” However,
US mills are going to reportedly face resistance within the spot market, sources say, especially since buyers are aware that mills’ production costs are ticking down.
As it stands, ex-Midwest mill spot pricing has not wavered since our last report a week ago and continues to hold in the approximate range of $46.00-$47.00 cwt. ($1,014-$1,036/mt or $920-$940/nt), while futures prices from Korean and Turkish mills are also unchanged at $37.50-$38.50 cwt. ($827-$849/mt or $750-$770/nt), both DDP loaded truck
US Gulf coast ports.