Activity is still rather slack in the UAE seamless pipe market amid poor demand from the consuming industry and quite high stocks. Import offers of seamless pipes have moved in different directions. Import quotations of Ukrainian line pipes have gone down by a minimum of $40/mt over the past month, while prices of Romanian material have declined by $10-20/mt. Over the same period, quotations of South African pipes have moved down by a maximum of $20/mt, while Japanese and German suppliers have left their offers unchanged. Chinese offers of casing have increased by $10-20/mt over the past month on the back of better demand for OCTG from customers in the UAE. Market insiders believe buying activity may improve at the end of February thanks to new construction projects announced in the country.
Most offers of seamless pipes of 2"-8" grade B made to ASTM/API from small mills are being given to the local UAE market at $740-760/mt CFR, while large mills are offering the same material at around $850-890/mt CFR. Offers of 7"-9 5/8" casing of J55 and K55 grade as per API 5CT from Chinese suppliers are being given to the UAE at around $920-960/mt CFR.
Quotations of Ukrainian (Interpipe) seamless pipes, 2"-6" Sch 40 grade B made to ASTM/API, are at $980-1,050/mt CFR.
Seamless pipes from Romania (ArcelorMittal) of 3"-10" grade B made to ASTM are quoted at about $1,380-1,420/mt CFR.
South African (ArcelorMittal) seamless pipes, 3"-6" grade B made to ASTM/API, are being quoted to the UAE in the range of $1,000-1,050/mt CFR.
Offers of seamless pipes from Argentina, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM/API from Tenaris, are being given to the UAE at $1,520-1,560/mt CFR.
Quotations from France and Germany (V&M) and from Japan (NSSMC) for seamless pipes of 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM/API are at about $1,400-1,450/mt CFR.