In the early days of the month, SteelOrbis sources noted that while tube mills were quoting new orders for US domestic HSS tubing in the range of $42-$43 cwt. ($926-$948/mt or $840-$860/nt) ex-mill, deals at $40 cwt. ($882/mt or $800/nt) ex-mill were still available to certain customers.
Today, customers are reporting that most transactions are being heard at “$40 cwt., delivered to the customer. Demand is terrible and the market is a mess.”
Another source agreed.
“Tubing is going to do whatever hot rolled is doing, and since it doesn’t look like hot rolled has bottomed just yet, the same could be said for tubing,” he added. “Everything is slow, demand is down by about 20% and the coronavirus is still wreaking havoc on the market.”