Spot market pricing within the US domestic hollow structural sections market may have held stable since our last report two weeks ago, at approximately $50.50 cwt. ($1,113/mt or $1,010/nt), ex-mill, but sources close to SteelOrbis say they believe that pricing is primed for an upswing.
“At this point, the still-to-be-resolved Section 232 investigation seems to be holding off the imports, which could help prolong upward pricing,” a source said.
Another source said that while demand isn’t great, “it’s not bad,” adding that current upticks in US HRC pricing, which is more supply-based than demand-based, are driving higher prices throughout the supply chain.
“It’s been rumored that HSS prices are about to go up another $2.00 cwt. ($44/mt or $40/nt) at any minute,” another source said, “and this uptrend is expected to last throughout the first half of the year.”