Demand for seamless pipes is increasing gradually in the UAE as market sentiment continues to improve. Import quotations of most Chinese suppliers have gone up by around $20/mt over the past month, while quotations of Romanian pipes have moved up by a maximum of $10/mt. Offers of Ukrainian line pipes for the UAE have gone down by a maximum of $15/mt over the past month, while prices of Argentinian material have declined by $10-30/mt amid efforts to increase sales volumes. Over the same period, Japanese, South African and German suppliers have left their seamless pipe offers for the UAE unchanged. Market players believe that demand for seamless pipes will increase in the UAE in the coming period due to the large number of mega projects planned or getting underway.
Most offers of seamless pipes of 2"-8" grade B made to ASTM/API from most Chinese mills are being given to the local UAE market at $780-800/mt CFR, while large mills are offering the same material at around $880-900/mt CFR.
Quotations of Ukrainian (Interpipe) seamless pipes, 2"-6" Sch 40 grade B made to ASTM/API, are at $980-1,015/mt CFR, while 8"-10" pipes are at $1,000-1,035/mt CFR.
Seamless pipes from Romania (ArcelorMittal) of 3"-10" grade B made to ASTM are quoted at about $1,360-1,420/mt CFR.
South African (ArcelorMittal) seamless pipes, 3"-6" grade B made to ASTM/API, are being quoted to the UAE in the range of $1,000-1,050/mt CFR.
Offers of seamless pipes from Argentina, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM/API from Tenaris, are being given to the UAE at $1,500-1,550/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 $1,400-1,450/mt CFR.