Stainless steel pipe, fittings & flanges report: January 2019
Stainless steel pipe, fittings and flange prices also were decelerating at the end of the year after hitting a four-year peak in October. They remain near four-year highs and have remained steady since July despite this mild deceleration of late. Input prices appear to be rising because of heavier regulatory pressures in key producer nations.
Input prices into stainless PFF are mixed. Nickel has declined since its 2018 highs of $7/lb., this past June. Current nickel prices are hovering near $5/lb. Increases in manufacturing activity in the U.S. defense aerospace sector has silently increased chromium demand and has stabilized prices of late.