Over the past month some Iranian producers of welded pipes have maintained unchanged domestic prices in order to keep customers and attract orders before the dead business month of Ramadan. However, other Iranian manufacturers have started to raise their quotations on the back of rising import offers of flat steel products. In particular, hot rolled coil (HRC) from the CIS is currently quoted at $570-590/mt C&F Anzali. As a result, the lower end of the domestic offer range of Iranian welded pipes and hollow sections has not changed, while the upper end of the price range has risen by $30/mt. Local stockists' prices have declined by a maximum of $25/mt for welded pipes and have risen by $70/mt for hollow sections over the period under review. Import offers of Chinese welded pipes have continued to drop down, but are still not competitive for the Iranian market.
It is expected that prices for imported flat steel will decline in the coming weeks, but the general price sentiment in Iran for the longer term is upward as import volumes have decreased and as demand is growing due to government projects. Iranian traders report that prices for flat steel products will start to rise from autumn due to the reduction of import supplies of flat steel and a consequent shortage of material in the Iranian market. As Ramadan approaches, the demand for welded pipes in Iran will drop in the coming month; but in September higher prices for flat steel products may push up welded pipe quotations.
Iranian producers' current domestic prices for welded pipes of ½"-8" size with 2 mm wall thickness made to EN 10219 or DIN 2394 from S235JR grade HRC are at $680-730/mt ex-works. Offers of 25 x 25 mm - 110 x 110 mm hollow sections with 2-6 mm wall thickness made to EN 10219 or DIN 2395 are being given on average at $680-730/mt ex-works. Iranian producers' prices of ½"-4" water and gas ERW pipes made to DIN 2440/2441 are at around $745-795/mt ex-works. Current domestic prices of Iranian 6"-14" welded pipes grade B made to ASTM A53 are at the level of $850/mt ex-works.
Local stockists' prices for welded pipes of ¾"-3" size from Iranian producers are at about $830-870/mt ex-warehouse, compared to $830-895/mt ex-warehouse four weeks ago. Offers of 20 x 20 mm - 100 x 100 mm hollow sections ex-warehouse Tehran are on average at $670-685/mt, compared to $600-615/mt ex-warehouse four weeks ago.
Chinese welded pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A53/API 5L, are currently being offered to the Iranian market at around $755-800/mt C&F Bandar Abbas, $25-30/mt lower than one month ago.
Iranian stockists' prices for local production welded pipes
($/t, ex-warehouse, cash payment)
Diameter Price Change*
3/4" 865 -30
1" 860 -20
1 1/4" 855 -30
1 ½" 870 -20
2" 860 -20
2 ½" 830 0
3" 845 -5
*over the past four weeks