Demand for seamless pipes in Iran has declined somewhat ahead of the Iranian New Year holiday (starts March 21). However, domestic prices of locally produced seamless pipes have remained stable over the past month. Import offers of seamless pipes from China and Russia are also unchanged, while offers of Ukrainian material have declined by around $40/mt. Market participants hope demand will improve after the Iranian New Year holiday, when Iranian end-users may resume their purchases in line with the start of the consumption season. However, there are still uncertainties surrounding the growth of demand, given the economic instability in the country.
Current domestic prices for Iranian seamless pipes, 2"-4" grade B made to API 5L, are in the range of $1,000-1,020/mt ex-works, while 2"-4" seamless pipes grade Х52 made to API 5L are offered to the domestic market at on average $1,100-1,120/mt ex-works.
Import offers of Chinese seamless pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L, are being given to the local Iranian market at $780-800/mt CFR Bandar Abbas.
Quotations of Ukrainian seamless pipes of 2"-6" size grade B as per ASTM A106 are at about $990-1,060/mt CFR for March production.
Russian pipes of 2"-6" grade B as per ASTM A106 or GOST are being offered to northern Iranian ports at $1,000-1,050/mt CFR.