The local Chinese steel pipe market has mostly followed a downward trend during the past week.
As of April 27, in China's three main steel markets, i.e., Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing, the average price of 20# (GB/T8162-1999) grade 108 mm x 4.5 mm seamless pipe now stands at $610/mt (RMB 4,200/mt), with 20# (GB/T8163-1999) grade 219 mm x 6 mm seamless pipe at $622/mt (RMB 4,283/mt). Meanwhile, on the same date, Q195-215 grade 48 mm x 3.25 mm welded pipe and Q215-235 grade 114 mm x 3.75 mm welded pipe prices in the above markets are standing at $494/mt (RMB 3,403/mt) and $494/mt (RMB 3,400/mt) respectively. All the above prices include 17 percent VAT.
Local Chinese seamless pipe prices have moved on a soft trend during the past seven days. Overall trading activity is still weak, while sentiment among traders is mainly negative since pipe producers have again reduced their quotations, while upstream billet prices have also decreased in the past week. As for the coming week, it believed that the local seamless pipe market will continue its downward movement.
The Chinese domestic welded pipe market has seen slight downticks in prices of certain products during the past week, while overall trading activity has been at a low level. The slight rebound in domestic steel strip prices has provided some support for welded pipe price. However, traders are currently willing to offer discounts since it is near the end of the month. For the week ahead, it is expected that local welded pipe prices will start to move on a stable trend.
| Product Name | Spec. | Category | City | Steel Plant/Origin | Price (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change (RMB/mt) |
| Seamless pipe | Φ108 mm x 4.5 mm | 20# (GB/T8162-1999) | Shanghai | Wuxi | 3,900 | 566 | ↓100 |
| Guangzhou | Shandong | 4,500 | 653 | ↓150 | |||
| Beijing | Angang | 4,200 | 610 | ↓100 | |||
| Average price | - | 4,200 | 610 | ↓117 | |||
| Φ219 mm x 6 mm | 20# (GB/T8163-1999) | Shanghai | Zhenda | 4,100 | 595 | 0 | |
| Guangzhou | Angang | 4,550 | 660 | ↓150 | |||
| Beijing | Shandong | 4,200 | 610 | ↓100 | |||
| Average price | - | 4,283 | 622 | ↓83 | |||
| Welded pipe | Φ48 mm x 3.25 mm | Q195-Q215 | Shanghai | Tangshan | 3,390 | 492 | ↓30 |
| Guangzhou | Guangzhou | 3,500 | 508 | 0 | |||
| Beijing | Jinghua | 3,320 | 482 | ↓50 | |||
| Average price | - | 3,403 | 494 | ↓27 | |||
| Ф114 mm x 3.75 mm | Q215-Q235 | Shanghai | Huaqi | 3,450 | 501 | ↓30 | |
| Guangzhou | Guangzhou | 3,500 | 508 | 0 | |||
| Beijing | Zengzhou | 3,250 | 472 | ↓50 | |||
| Average price | - | 3,400 | 493 | ↓27 |
17 percent VAT is included in all prices and all prices are ex-warehouse.
$1 = RMB 6.88