Prices for US import API X-52 line pipe from Mexico and Korea have held stable since our last report a week ago.
The most commonly heard price for US import API-X52 ERW line pipe from Mexico in the US domestic market continues to trend at $49.50-$51.50 cwt. ($1091-$1135/mt or $990-$1030/nt), FOB Houston, while pricing for Korean API X-52 line pipe in the US domestic market has remained at $42.50-$44.00 cwt. ($937-$970/mt or $850-$880/nt), DDP loaded truck in US Gulf coast ports.
At the current time, SteelOrbis sources say they have backed away from booking offshore due to long lead times; current lead times would have Korean API X-52 line pipe arriving in December, source say, which would leave buyers vulnerable to paying a year-end inventory tax.