Buying activity in the German seamless pipe market has improved somewhat over the past month, and so some local mills have been able to raise their prices. Domestic and export quotations of locally produced seamless pipes have increased by €10-20/mt ($11-22/mt) over the past month on the back of slightly higher scrap prices. Market players believe that this is a sign of a recovering market, though it is still too early to talk about a strengthened market. Import prices of Romanian seamless pipes have moved up by €10-20/mt ($11-22/mt), while offers of Italian pipes have grown by a maximum of €10/mt ($11/mt). Over the same period, prices for Ukrainian material have decreased by €25-35/mt ($27-38/mt), while offers of Chinese pipes have moved down by a maximum of €5/mt (up $6/mt). It is expected that seamless pipe demand in Germany may be boosted bythe slightly more upbeat outlook for the seamless pipe-using sectors. However, progress may be slow and surrounded by uncertainties.
German 2"-6" seamless pipes of grade S355 made to EN 10210 are being offered to local buyers at around €900-940/mt ($981-1,025/mt) delivered.
Export quotations of German 2"-4" seamless pipes of grade B as per ASTM A106 are in the range of €890-920/mt ($970-1,003/mt) FCA on theoretical weight basis.
Prices for Chinese seamless pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L, are at about €580-610/mt ($632-665/mt) CFR Germany, exclusive of antidumping duties.
Offers of Ukrainian 2"-6" seamless pipes made to ASTM A106 of steel grade B are in the range of €810-830/mt ($883-905/mt) CPT, exclusive of antidumping duties.
Romanian 4"-6" seamless pipes made to ASTM A106 of steel grade B are being offered to the German market at about €930-970/mt ($1,014-1,057/mt) CPT.
Prices for Italian seamless pipes of 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106 are at about €1,030-1,050/mt ($1,123-1,146/mt) CPT.
€1 = $1.09