Copper remains at a three-year high, and steel, nickel and zinc all are trending up. Raw material costs along with foreign exchange rates are pushing pricing up and pricing protection shorter. Most commercial valve manufacturers have announced increases in the 4-6% range in the last 45 days. Others are expected to follow suit, shortly. 

The market outlook remains steady. For November, construction spending (seasonally adjusted annual rate) for residential and commercial building activity increased 1.5% in comparison to October.

Relative to forged and cast mid-stream valve markets, deliveries remain an issue with some forged running in the 8-12 weeks range and some trim 5 valves running 20-plus weeks. Cast seems to be in the 6-8-week range for commodity product.

The American Supply Association (ASA) and its Industrial Piping Division (IPD) is the national organization serving wholesaler-distributors and their suppliers in the industrial and mechanical pipe-valve-fitting industry.  As a powerful alliance of channel partners, we provide a forum for your upstream trading partners to exchange critical information and address key issues.

In particular, ASA’s IPD members constantly check the pulse of the materials and commodities they proudly supply to you.  ASA’s IPD members are knowledgeable industry leaders, and those who volunteer their service on the IPD Executive Council compile and prepare the IPD Commodity Reports.  The Reports contain some of the most current and qualified market data and information available from the industry’s leading manufacturers and distributors about emerging trends and other price-influencing actions and events.

This information is an example of how ASA’s IPD manufacturer and distributor members are constantly looking ahead to ensure you have information and resources you need to be successful.  Learn more at www.AdvanceYourAbility.com.