The Spanish seamless pipe market has not yet indicated any significant signs of recovery. Demand from local end-users and traders has been feeble over the past month due to slackness in consuming industries amid the difficult financial and economic situation in the country. Nevertheless, export opportunities for Spanish seamless pipe suppliers are notably better, due to the weakening of the euro against the US dollar. Domestic and export prices for Spanish seamless pipes have increased by around €10/mt over the past month, but prices in the US dollar terms have declined by $25-26/mt amid currency fluctuations. Import offers of Chinese and Ukrainian seamless pipes have moved up by €10-25/mt (down $5-13/mt) over the past month. Prices for Italian material have stayed unchanged during the given period. The domestic seamless pipe market in Spain is expected to continue to see slack activity. Market insiders believe local buyers are unlikely to significantly increase their activity in the short term, given the lack of investment projects in the country.
Current Spanish domestic prices for 2"-4" hot-formed seamless pipes, grade B made to ASTM A106, are at around €950-970/mt ($1,039-1,061/mt) ex-works.
Current export prices of Spanish seamless pipes, 2"-4" grade B according to ASTM A106, are varying at around €980-1,000/mt ($1,072-1,093/mt) FOB.
Prices for Chinese seamless pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L, are at about €630-685/mt ($689-749/mt) CFR Spain, exclusive of antidumping duties (in the range of 17.7-39.2 percent depending on the producer).
Offers of Ukrainian seamless pipes, 2"-6" grade B according to API 5L, are being given to Spain at €850-870/mt ($929-951/mt) CPT. Prices are shown exclusive of 13.8 percent antidumping duty.
Quotations of Italian seamless pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106, to Spain are at €1,020-1,040/mt ($1,115-1,137/mt) CPT.
€1 = $1.09