Optimism within the
US domestic energy pipe industry, including those who buy and sell line pipe, is trending strong.
“The pipe market is hot, hot, hot,” one source said, noting that lead times from both domestic and foreign producers is already out to July / August production. “Most [domestic] mills are holding off on new offers because they’re anticipating that flats mills will push for another price increase on hot rolled, which they fully expect to pass along,” said one source, before
US domestic flats mills announced a $1.50 cwt. ($33/mt or $30/nt) price increase on Wednesday.
In early February, SteelOrbis reported that
US domestic API X-42 line pipe was being heard at $45-$47 cwt. ($992-$1036/mt or $900-$940/nt), ex-Midwest mill, and while some SteelOrbis sources say they’ve recently heard offers at $47-$49 cwt. ($1036-$1080/mt or $940-$980/nt), ex-mill, they also report that it had been difficult to get firm pricing from pipe mills due to the anticipated hot rolled price increase, although that situation is expected to change now that the increase has been announced.