Although the most commonly heard spot market price transaction range for US domestic hollow structural sections (HSS) tubing continues to hold in the range of $51.00-$53.00 cwt. ($1,124-$1,168/mt or $1,020-$1,060/nt), ex-mill, sources have said that volume buyers “can do about $1.00 cwt. ($22/mt or $20/nt) better.”
Whether the official price range will revise downward is still uncertain. Part of the reason for the deal making, sources note, relates to oversupply. “Order activity isn’t terrible but it’s slower than we’d all like,” a source said. “Mills have excess inventory and they’re willing to cut deals to move it.”
Market players say they’re still keeping close tabs on US HRC prices; HRC spot market prices are currently stable, although deals for volume buyers have become increasingly abundant.