The situation in the Iranian welded pipe market remains unfavorable due to the unstable political and economic situation. Meanwhile, Iranian welded pipe suppliers have continued to push up prices up after the Iranian New Year holidays amid higher production costs. Iranian welded pipe producers have increased their domestic prices by $20-30/mt over the past month, while local stockists have raised their offers by $70-100/mt. Meanwhile, demand from end-users remains slack, and buyers are careful about making purchases believing that prices may move down further soon. However, producers are not planning to take a backward step in prices for the time being, expecting buyers to accept current price levels soon in the light of improvements in the construction sector.
Iranian producers' current domestic prices for 6"-8" welded pipes with 2 mm wall thickness of grade B made to ASTM/API are at $920-940/mt ex-works, while quotations of 12"-14" pipes are at about $1,060-1,080/mt ex-works. Prices are exclusive of four percent VAT.
Local stockists' prices for welded pipes of ¾"-3" size from Iranian producers are currently varying at around $1,030-1,100/mt ex-warehouse, compared to $950-1,015/mt ex-warehouse one month ago. Offers of 20 x 20 mm - 100 x 100 mm hollow sections ex-warehouse Tehran are on average at $935-960/mt, compared to $910-935/mt ex-warehouse one month ago.
Chinese welded pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A53/API 5L, are currently being offered to the Iranian market at $830-850/mt CFR, compared to $790-850/mt CFR one month ago. However, Iranian buyers are still not interested in imports of pipes, given problems with payment to foreign suppliers.
Iranian stockists' prices for local production welded pipes:
($/t, ex-warehouse, cash payment)
Diameter Price Change*
3/4" 1,100 +85
1" 1,085 +85
1 1/4" 1,085 +85
1 ½" 1,080 +70
2" 1,100 +100
2 ½" 1,055 +85
3" 1,030 +80
*over the past month