Consumption levels have not improved significantly in the Iranian seamless pipe market. After the New Year holiday in Iran, the market situation has started to improve, but at a slow pace. Most market participants prefer to wait for the final results of negotiations on Iran's nuclear program and are not very active in concluding purchases. However, domestic offer prices of locally produced seamless pipes have risen by a maximum of $30/mt over the past month on the back of positive expectations. Import offers of seamless pipes from China have declined by $20-30/mt, while offers of Ukrainian and Russian material have remained almost unchanged. Market insiders believe seamless pipe prices in Iran may continue to move up in the coming period. Meanwhile, high inventory levels, low demand and scarce transactions may limit any upward price movement.
Current domestic prices for Iranian seamless pipes, 2"-4" grade B made to API 5L, are in the range of $1,000-1,050/mt ex-works, while 2"-4" seamless pipes grade Х52 made to API 5L are offered to the domestic market at on average $1,100-1,150/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 $750-780/mt CFR Bandar Abbas.
Quotations of Ukrainian seamless pipes of 2"-6" size grade B as per ASTM A106 have been at about $990-1,050/mt CFR for April 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.