The most commonly heard spot price transaction range for
US domestic Grade A ERW BPE standard pipe prices have leveled. Two weeks ago, SteelOrbis reported that January spot prices had firmed by $3.00 cwt. ($66/mt or $60/nt) on the low end of the range, and by $2.50 cwt. ($55/mt or $50/nt) on the top end of the range, which brought prices to $46.50-$47.50 ($1025-$1047/mt or $930-$950/nt), ex-Midwest mill.
Current spot market prices continue to trend in that range.
Standard pipe prices had previously firmed due to upticks in mills’ input costs, due to firmed scrap and HRC prices in January, but now that
US HRC prices have stabilized, and
US scrap prices are no longer on an uptrend (yesterday, SteelOrbis reported that domestic scrap prices on the East coast and Pennsylvania regions softened during this month’s buy-cycle), it’s believed this will help lend stability to
US standard pipe prices as well.