The most competitive import J55 electric resistance welded (ERW) oil country tubular goods (OCTG) casing offer prices for the US have stayed neutral again in the last week, after falling about $1.00 cwt. ($22/mt or $20/nt) three weeks ago. However, because futures delivery dates are now beginning to move into early 2012, traders tell SteelOrbis that import OCTG casing prices are likely to increase next month in line with booking activity. This has given US buyers more incentive to lock in orders at current prices, approximately in the range of $52.00-$53.00 cwt. ($1,146-$1,168/mt or $1,040-$1,060/nt) DDP loaded truck in US Gulf ports from Korea and Taiwan. Vietnamese mills continue to push for orders in the US market at prices about $1.00 cwt. under Korea and Taiwan, and Turkish prices are in the range of $51.50-$52.50 cwt. ($1,135-$1,157/mt or $1,030-$1,050/nt) DDP loaded truck in US Gulf ports.
Offer prices for API X42 ERW line pipe from Korea and Taiwan haven't moved in the last week either, and still range from $48.00-$49.00 cwt. ($1,058-$1,080/mt or $960-$980/nt) DDP loaded truck in US Gulf ports. As with previous weeks, import line pipe demand is lighter than for OCTG, but purchasing activity is fluctuating upward and prices may also begin to rise in September.
US domestic API X42 ERW line pipe spot prices are unchanged from last week as well, and are still $65.50-$66.50 cwt. ($1,444-$1,466/mt or $1,310-$1,330/nt) ex-Midwest mill. US domestic J55 ERW OCTG casing spot prices range from $66.00-$67.00 cwt. ($1,455-$1,477/mt or $1,320-$1,340/nt) ex-Midwest mill-reflecting no change since last week. Due to continued strength from drilling projects, demand levels domestically are stable, but distributors told SteelOrbis that August sales have shown a noticeable decline from a rather robust July amid US economic and stock market turmoil in the last couple weeks, as well as a typically heavy vacation month in August.