Russia-based TMK, one of the world's leading oil and gas steel pipe producers, has reported that in the last quarter of 2014 its pipe sales increased by 16 percent compared to the previous quarter totaling 1.237 million mt, as the result of higher large diameter (LD) pipe volumes along with stronger sales of seamless pipe in the Russian division.
In the fourth quarter, TMK's welded pipe sales increased by 11 percent compared with the third quarter, reaching 534,000 mt, thanks to higher volumes of LD pipe sales in Russia and welded OCTG sales in the US.
Seamless pipe volumes rose by 20 percent in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter to 702,000 mt due to higher seamless OCTG and line pipe sales in the Russian division, following seasonally stronger demand. Seamless OCTG sales grew by 13 percent in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter.