THE OCTG SITUATION ROOM

The quote, “Prediction is very hard, especially about the future” captures the essence of the responses we received to our request for domestic OCTG mills supply forecasts in a year where uncertainty seems to be the only certainty. Thus, we braved this muddy matter with the hope of rising above the perils of prediction. Our U.S. OCTG Mill Supply Forecast comes with the following set of assumptions for 2017: a) WTI averages $50 - $60/BBL; averages over or under this range will

In the words of baseball legend Yogi Berra, “the future ain't what it used to be.” As we embark on our publication’s 31st annual ‘state

Photo Courtesy Port of Houston Authority The past 26 months in the oil patch have run our industry through the mill, so the glimmer of light we see at the end of the tunnel sets the tone for a decidedly happier new year. Each January (and every quarter) we go to great lengths to determine if the ‘yard’ is half full or half empty. Our analysis is based on our exclusive quarterly inventory yard survey, designed to gauge demand for OCTG in the U.S. The results of our survey are

"It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data,” ~Sherlock Holmes. Holmes clearly understood that having data to back up one’s conclusions is paramount and our quarterly OCTG inventory yard survey is further proof of this fact. This investigation and analysis is the only one of its kind in the world and serves as a bellwether of OCTG health for every segment of the supply chain. Herewith we present a piece of the puzzle that leads to our determinations. Our exclusiv

Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the “heavyweight” main event of the month: the buzz over the bitter cost disparity between seamless and welded OCTG and the narrowing pricing delta between the two. In one corner we have seamless OCTG and its opponent, welded OCTG in the other. “Let’s get ready to rumble.” This fight has been heating up with the spectacular rally in U.S. hot rolled coil, a conversation we’ve highlighted in recent months. So let’s break the status quo down for c

It’s medal mania all over again as the 2016 Rio Olympic Games permeate the airwaves. And it’s “metal” mania here in the OCTG Situation Room as we dig into the various drivers that impact oil country tubular goods. The buzz of recent seems centered on the hot rolled coil (HRC) trade case outcome. While we share details of the results in our August market intel we offer highlights that relate specifically to OCTG here. We reported there was a pickup in inquiries in early June a

The checkered flag has been waved, signaling the results of our 2Q16 OCTG inventory yard survey are in. It is here where the rubber meets the road, suggesting descending inventory stocks are paving the way for improvements moving forward. As many of you know we pull out all the stops for our quarterly surveys: tracking demand for OCTG throughout the entire supply chain. To ensure the most accurate results we involve a crew of people who count pipe at truck terminals, mills, p

If you’re reading this today — congratulations, you’re still in the game! You’ve made it to the halfway point of a grueling year. June is the month we confer with a number of OCTG players from all walks of the supply chain to get their thoughts on the outlook for OCTG in the second half of the year. Suffice to say we always net some interesting color commentary. While conversations ranged from well-worn speculation about oil prices to continued irritation over tubular impor