Buying activity in the Italian market for seamless pipes remains rather slack due to the continuing debt crisis in Europe. However, domestic and export prices for locally produced seamless pipes have remained unchanged over the past month, supported by firm demand from foreign oil and gas companies, while demand for industrial and line pipes remains weak due to low economic activity. Meanwhile, import offers have continued to move up due to higher costs and currency fluctuations. During the period under review, offers of Chinese material have increased by a maximum of €10/mt. Prices of Ukrainian seamless pipes for Italy have increased by €20-30/mt in the past month. Import quotations of seamless pipes from Romania have gone up by a maximum of €10/mt, while offers of Czech seamless pipes have increased by €20-30/mt over the period under review. However, Italian customers show little interest in buying import material. Market insiders expect that prices for import and domestic seamless pipes in Italy will hover at current levels in the short term.
Current domestic prices for Italian seamless pipes of 6"-10" size as per ASTM are at about €1,250-1,350/mt ex-works, while 2"-4" pipes are at around €1,200/mt ex-works.
Export quotations of Italian seamless pipes of 6"-10" Sch 40 size as per ASTM A106 are at around €1,280-1,400/mt FCA, offers of 3" pipes are at €1,240-1,250/mt FCA, while prices of 16" pipes are at €1,420-1,430/mt FCA for September production.
Prices for Chinese seamless pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM, are at about €770-860/mt CFR Italy. Prices are exclusive of antidumping (AD) duties of 17.7-39.2 percent.
May-June production Ukrainian 2"-6" seamless pipes as per GOST or ASTM are offered to the Italian market at around €880-900/mt CPT (25.1 percent AD duty not included).
Prices for Romanian origin seamless steel tubes (ArcelorMittal Roman) of 3"-10" grade B made to ASTM or as per EN are at about €1,050-1,060/mt CPT.
Czech origin 3"-10" seamless steel tubes (ArcelorMittal Ostrava), as per ASTM, are quoted for Italian consumers at around €1,030-1,050/mt CPT.