Despite tube mills’ strong desire to push spot market prices for US domestic HSS tubing a bit higher, prices continue to hold in the range of $45-$46 cwt. ($992-$1,014/mt or $900-$920/nt) ex-mill.
The question of whether this month’s $2.00 cwt. ($44/mt or $40/nt) price increase will be accepted has yet to be answered.
US HRC prices are still mostly stable, sources note, despite flats mills’ attempt to get prices higher. News that domestic scrap prices could come down by as much as $20-$30/gt ($20-$30/mt) in April has market players questioning whether last week’s HSS price increase announcement will gain traction.