Chinese welded pipe prices have continued to drop down because of sluggish demand in all sales markets and softer feedstock prices. Over the past two weeks, Chinese mills' domestic quotations have decreased by RMB 40-110/mt ($6-17/mt), while export offers of welded pipes from Chinese suppliers have declined by around $20/mt. Market insiders believe the situation is unlikely to improve soon given poor conditions inside and outside the country and a possible further rollback in prices for flat steel material. It is likely that the welded pipe market in China will maintain its downward trend in the coming period.
Current offers of locally produced 2"-6" welded pipes of grade B as per ASTM A53 are being given to the Chinese domestic market at an average of RMB 4,200-4,350/mt ($677-701/mt) ex-works. These local market welded pipe prices include 17 percent VAT. Traders in Shanghai are offering Q215-Q235 welded pipes made to GB/T3091 at around RMB 3,760-3,870/mt ($606-624/mt) ex-warehouse, while stockists in the cities of Tianjin and Beijing are offering similar pipes at RMB 3,610-3,760/mt ($582-606/mt) ex-warehouse.
Current export prices of welded pipes from large Chinese mills, 2"-10" grade B according to ASTM A53, have stayed at around $640-680/mt FOB on actual weight basis.