US import line pipe prices shoot upward

Last week, rumors that offshore producers of API X-42 electric resistance weld (ERW) line pipe market were making a strong push to get prices up; this week, quoted futures prices from several countries have made an upward climb, and the general idea is that this may be a “preemptive strike” in hopes of avoiding “critical circumstances” just in case a line pipe trade case is filed.  In the past week, quoted offer prices from India have ticked up about $3.00 cwt. ($66/nt or $60/nt) and are now in the approximate range of $41.50-$42.50 cwt. ($915-$937/mt or $830-$850/nt) DDP loaded truck US Gulf coast ports, whereas sources close to SteelOrbis say that Philippine mills are offering about $1.00 cwt. ($22/mt or $20/nt) higher than the Indian range.  Brazilian offers are also available, at approximately $2.00 cwt. ($44/mt or $40/nt) the Indian range, but trader sources say mills from that country have essentially “priced themselves out of the market.”  Mills from Korea and Taiwan are also trying to push prices up between $1.00-$2.00 cwt. ($22-$44/mt or $20-$40/nt) from their previous range of $40.00-$41.00 cwt. ($882-$904/mt or $800-$820/nt) DDP loaded truck US Gulf coast ports.  On the other hand, not everyone believes these levels will stick; others point out that “most of these countries can’t ship OCTG to the US so it’s going to be more difficult for them to push through too much of an increase.”

In terms of US domestic pricing, that has remained stable since our last report a week ago, still in the approximate range of $51.00-$52.00 cwt. ($1,124-$1,146/mt or $1,020-$1,040/nt) ex-Midwest mill.  As with last week, sources close to SteelOrbis say that anyone who is looking to book hefty tonnages can likely negotiate deals.