US tubing market – Import prices are catching up

Import offers for Turkish square and rectangular tubing have continued to climb up another $0.50 cwt ($11 /mt or $10 /nt) in the last few weeks. This increase for Turkish tubing is again due to escalating flat rolled prices from foreign suppliers such as Russia, Romania and Ukraine. With all the raw material cost increases, imported square and rectangular tubing is now being offered for $28.50 cwt. to $30.00 cwt. ($628 /mt to $661 /mt or $570 /nt to $600 /nt) for FOB, loaded-truck, US Gulf Coast ports. Currently the price trend is strongly up for imported tubing. Some Turkish mills are holding off offering until flat rolled prices in the region settle down. Similarly in Asia, the tubing prices are going up. Chinese tubing is now being offered between $31 cwt. to $33 cwt. ($683 /mt to $728 /mt or $620 /nt to $660 /nt) FOB West Coast ports, an increase of $1.50 to $2.00 cwt. ($33 /mt to $44 /mt or $30 /nt to $40 /nt), again due to hot rolled coil price increases. Subject product is A500 Grade A and B from ½” to 6”. 16 gauge tubing (0.063” or 1.5mm) and larger and heavier tubing (over 0.250” or 6.35 mm) is offered with extras in varying amounts. US consumption levels are still good and demand remains strong, though the notable gap between import and domestic tubing prices still persists. Domestic prices are reported at above $40 cwt. ($882 /mt or $800 /nt) and large sizes like 14” (355 mm) and 16” (406 mm) are fetching a whooping $70 cwt. ($1,543 /mt or $1,400 /nt) due to lack of domestic competition. However, 14” and 16” tubing is available from China, Japan, South Korea and certain Western European countries.