The UAE seamless pipe market has remained quiet over the past month. Local traders are not in a hurry to conclude deals amid falling seamless pipe prices, weak demand from end-users and sufficient inventories. During the past month, import offers of Chinese seamless pipes have remained stable. In the given period, quotations of Ukrainian pipes have decreased by $20-30/mt, offers of Romanian materials have fallen by $90/mt, prices of Argentinian pipes have decreased by $20-50/mt, while quotations of German and Japanese seamless pipes have declined by $10-30/mt. Market players believe it will not be easy for foreign suppliers to increase their seamless pipe prices in the short term as demand has not yet recovered.
Most offers of seamless pipes of 2"-8" grade B made to ASTM/API from the majority of Chinese mills are being given to the local UAE market at $620-640/mt CFR.
Quotations of Ukrainian (Interpipe) seamless pipes, 2"-6" Sch 40 grade B made to ASTM/API, are at $940-970/mt CFR, while 8"-10" pipes are at $960-990/mt CFR.
Seamless pipes from Romania (ArcelorMittal) of 3"-10" grade B made to ASTM are quoted at about $1,130-1,160/mt CFR.
Offers of Argentinian (Tenaris) seamless pipes of 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L to the UAE are at $1,380-1,400/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 $1,290-1,320/mt CFR.