In standard pipe and structural tubing, both with heavy construction influence, the shipment comparisons to the same periods last year are starting to look unfavorable. This is a recent development only showing up in March and April so it could just be an anomoly but is certainly worth watching in this period of economic uncertainty and relatively high interest rates. Rising steel prices starting in December could have certainly affected domestic shipments in this time period but in structural tubing the deficit appears mostly on the import side of the equation.
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