US line pipe prices increased for the fifth month in a row in February, Kallanish learns from data analyst Pipe Logix. 

Average line pipe prices increased by 6.7% on-month to $1,677/short ton. Domestic prices increased by 6.3% to $1,892/st, while import prices increased 7.2% to $1,461/st. 

Over the past five months, average line pipe prices have gone up by 25%. Prior to that, line pipe prices had been on a long decline of more than 12 months. On-year, prices are up 10%.

“Distributors sentiment remains bullish with an NASPD (National Association of Steel Pipe Distributors) index of 73 in February,” Pipe Logix says. “Ninety percent of the distributors expect prices to be higher over the next two months.  However, the expectations for new orders has drifted lower with a score of 59 in February compared to 73 the previous month.”

Pipe logix adds that hot-rolled and scrap prices continue to be the main driver behind higher line pipe prices, “...with the HRC price now double what it was a year ago.” Kallanish currently puts hot-rolled at $1,275-1,300/st.