Pessimism prevails among Czech seamless pipe exporters given the poor demand in most foreign markets. Over the past month, export offers of seamless pipes from Czech producer ArcelorMittal Ostrava have decreased by a maximum of €10/mt ($13/mt) amid feeble demand from foreign buyers and the overall downward trend in the global seamless pipe market. However, most overseas customers continue to postpone purchases in fear of another price fall.
Meanwhile, export offers of Czech seamless pipes will unlikely go down further due to more expensive raw material costs and expectations of a rebound in the buying activities of consuming industries. At the same time, the slow recovery of overseas demand will prevent prices from rising sharply.
Current export prices for 2"-3" Sch 40 seamless bare pipes (without varnish coating) of steel grade B made to ASTM A106 from ArcelorMittal Ostrava are at €870-890/mt ($1,140-1,166/mt), while 3/4"-1" seamless pipes are at €990-1,030/mt ($1,297-1,349/mt) FCA.
Current export quotations for 3"-10" Sch 40 seamless pipes of steel grade B made to ASTM A106 with varnish coating from ArcelorMittal Ostrava are at around €900-920/mt ($1,179-1,205/mt) FCA, while 3/4"-1" seamless pipes are at €1,020-1,060/mt ($1,336-1,389/mt) FCA.
Export offers of 3"-10" seamless steel tubes of steel grade B made to API 5L, PSL2 from ArcelorMittal Ostrava are at around €930-950/mt ($1,218-1,245/mt) FCA, while 3/4"-1" seamless pipes are at €1,020-1,060/mt ($1,336-1,389/mt) FCA.
€1 = $1.31