Here are summaries of the outlook for various PVF categories, gleaned from the July 2002 IPD Commodity Reports newsletter, put out by ASA's Industrial Piping Division. For more information contact the IPD at 312-464-0090, info@asa.net, www.ASA.net.
"While the domestic replacement cost of pipe escalated $100/net ton from the start of the year, standard pipe demand has not gone up. Major distributors, armed with capital and market intelligence, pushed their inventories to excessive levels in early 2002. These price hedge-type orders have basically delayed some of the implementation of the new higher prices in the marketplace," according to the IPD.