In April, China's total domestic seamless steel pipe output was 1.6379 million mt, 34,700 mt less than in March and 2.07 percent less year on year. For the first four months of this year, the country's total seamless pipe output was 5.8509 million mt, up 544,600 mt year on year, i.e. approximately 10 percent.
(1) Imported quantity rises slightly
In April, China's total pipe imports came to 95,800 mt, constituting 6.36 percent of the country's total steel imports, 22,100 mt less than in March. China's seamless pipe imports in April amounted to 56,300 mt, up 1,430 mt up on the March level. Of these seamless pipe imports, oil and gas drilling pipe accounted for 23,000 mt, i.e. 40.84 percent of the total; boiler tube accounted for 20,600 mt, amounting to 36.6 percent; other seamless tube categories accounted for 9,720 mt, i.e. 17.26 percent; seamless line pipe came to 2,700 mt, i.e. 4.83 percent and drilling pipe stood at 258 mt, i.e. 0.46 percent.
The principal sources for imported pipe coming into China in April were Japan, Germany and the US. In April, Japan supplied 45.9 percent of China's seamless pipe imports, Germany 15.9 percent and South Korea nine percent. These three countries between them supplied 69.18 percent of China's total seamless pipe imports during the month in question.
(2) Exported quantity increases.
In April, China's total pipe exports reached 715,700 mt, 186,100 mt more than in March. In the same month, China's total seamless pipe exports came to 393,200 mt, 66,600 mt up on the March level. Of the latter quantity, oil and gas seamless drilling pipe accounted for 191,700 mt, i.e. 48.76 percent of total seamless pipe exports; line pipe exports accounted for 119,400 mt, i.e. 30.35 percent; exports of other seamless pipe categories came to 74,300 mt, i.e. 18.88 percent; boiler tube exports reached 7,300 mt, i.e. 1.86 percent; and drilling pipe exports came to 560 mt, i.e. 0.14 percent.
According to the April data, the export quantities of oil and gas seamless drilling pipe and line pipes are on the increase. In addition, the principal targeted export destinations are the US, South Korea and Spain.