Beam prices in the United States' domestic and import markets are steady for now but industry sources are eyeing softening market conditions moving forward.
Fastmarkets' assessment for domestic W8- x 8-in beams were flat at $41.75 per hundredweight ($835 per short ton) on Thursday January 24. At the same time, imported beams held at $780-820 per ton ($39-41 per cwt) delivered duty paid port of Houston.Unease in the near term"I get the impression there's ample supply" at mills, one service center source said. In general, the market "has to be softening" in the coming weeks due to growing mill inventories and "poor" demand, a distributor told Fastmarkets."If you...