Imports of seamless stainless steel pipe and tube are up substantially in 2011 over the same period in 2010.  Total imports of small diameter seamless pipe and tubing are up by nearly 40 percent through August, 2011, lead by substantial increases from Japan (up 350 percent) and China (up 56 percent).

"Members of the Stainless Steel Tube Trade Advancement Committee (SSTTAC) commented in late 2010 that an antidumping case filed in the European Union against China could result in a shifting of imports to the United States. EU antidumping margins of up to 70 percent have apparently encouraged a shift in Chinese exports from the EU into the United States.  Our members believe that, as shown in the evidence of dumping presented to the European Commission, China is also dumping seamless stainless steel pipe and tube into the United States in violation of U.S. law and China's WTO commitments.  We continue careful monitoring to determine whether such diversion is causing similar injury to U.S. producers," said David A. Hartquist, counsel to SSTTAC.

Stainless steel pipes, which were coming into more common use in the mid 20th century, permitted the use of thinner pipe walls with much less risk of failure due to corrosion. The experts said the base stainless steel pipe price will increase in 2012.

AK Steel said that it will increase base prices for all 200, 300 and 400 series flat rolled stainless steel products, effective with shipments on January 1, 2012.  AK Steel said this increase will be achieved through a reduction in the functional discount of four percentage points for cold rolled and hot rolled products.  Base prices of automotive exhaust grades and bright anneal finishes will increase by $.08 per pound. 

All raw material surcharges for stainless steel products, including those for materials under .015 inch thickness, will remain in effect. Surcharges for the broad range of stainless steel products that AK Steel produces can be found on the company's web site.

AK Steel produces flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steels, primarily for automotive, infrastructure and manufacturing, construction and electrical power generation and distribution markets.  The company employs about 6,200 men and women in Middletown, Mansfield, Coshocton and Zanesville, Ohio; Butler, Pennsylvania; Ashland, Kentucky; Rockport, Indiana; and its corporate headquarters in West Chester, Ohio. 

AK Tube LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AK Steel, employs about 300 men and women in plants in Walbridge, Ohio and Columbus, Indiana. AK Tube produces carbon and stainless electric resistance welded (ERW) tubular steel products for truck, automotive and other markets.   

AK Coal Resources, Inc., another wholly-owned subsidiary of AK Steel, owns or leases metallurgical coal reserves in Somerset County, PA. AK Steel also owns 49.9% of Magnetation LLC, a joint venture headquartered in Nashwauk, MN, which produces iron ore concentrate from previously mined ore reserves. 

SOURCES: Stainless Steel Tube Trade Advancement Committee & AK Steel

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