CIS origin seamless pipes are still experiencing slow buying activity in export markets, with CIS suppliers under pressure from Chinese competition. As a result, export prices for seamless pipes from Ukraine's Interpipe have decreased by $10-45/mt over the past month. Export quotations of seamless pipes from Russia-based TMK Group have decreased by $50-80/mt over the same period, while export prices of seamless pipes from Uraltrubostal have gone down by $20-30/mt.
Market insiders expect that foreign demand for Russian and Ukrainian standard seamless pipes will remain weak in the coming month, preventing export quotations from rising.
Export prices from Ukrainian mill Interpipe for October-November production hot-formed seamless pipes of 42-219 mm diameter as per GOST or ASTM currently vary in the range of $1,000-1,070/mt FOB.
Seamless pipes with 114.3-219.1 mm diameter as per ASTM or GOST from Tagmet (TMK Group) are quoted in the range of $1,020-1,050/mt FOB for November-December production.
Seamless hot-formed pipes with diameter of 33.4-88.9 mm made to ASTM from Sinarsky PP are quoted at $1,260-1,270/mt FOB for November-December production.
Export offers of Russian seamless pipes of 48.3-219.1 mm diameter, made to ASTM or GOST, from Uraltrubostal (Pervouralsky Novotrubny Works) are at $940-970/mt FOB, for November-December output, while pipes of 33.4-42.2 mm diameter are at around $1,250/mt FOB.