The seamless pipe market in the UAE has remained depressed in the past month as buyers stayed away from buying amid weak demand and expectations of a further downfall of import offers. Import quotations of Chinese seamless pipes have remained almost unchanged. The bottom end of the price range from Ukrainian and Russian producers has declined by $20-35/mt, while the upper end has remained at its previous level. Quotations for Romanian and South African seamless pipes have declined by $70-90/mt over the past month. Seamless pipe offers from top-tier producers from Argentina (Tenaris) and Japan (Sumitomo) for 2"-6" sizes have decreased by $50-90/mt over the analyzed period, while offers of 10"-12" pipes have risen by $250-350/mt. The current phase of recession in seamless pipe prices has crippled the already sagging market sentiments in the UAE. Demand for seamless pipes in the UAE is still poor as buyers are expecting prices to fall further. Market insiders think that any improvement for seamless pipes is impossible in the market until the end of Ramadan (early September).
In particular, import offers of Chinese (Tenaris) seamless pipes 3"-10" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are being given to the local UAE market at $890-900/mt C&F, while 2 ½" pipes are priced at around $950/mt C&F. Seamless pipes from China 1"-1 ½" grade B made to API 5L are quoted at around $1,025-1,050/mt C&F, while quotations of ½"-3/4" seamless pipes are at $1,080-1,100/mt C&F.
Quotations of Ukrainian (Interpipe) seamless pipes 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are at $1,000-1,050/mt C&F. Offers of similar pipes with 2"-8" diameter from Russia (TMK, Volzhsky) are being given to the UAE at around $1,060-1,100/mt C&F.
Seamless pipes from Romania and South Africa (ArcelorMittal) 2"-6" grade B made to API 5L are quoted at around $1,080-1,130/mt C&F Dubai.
Italian seamless pipes from Tenaris and Japanese seamless pipes from Sumitomo 2 ½"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are being quoted to the UAE at $1,330-1,375/mt C&F, while prices of 8"-12" seamless pipes are at $1,580-1,625/mt C&F. Offers for 14" seamless pipes from the same producers are at $1,630-1,675/mt C&F, while quotations for 16" size are at $1,730-1,770/mt C&F. Quotations of 2" seamless pipes from Italy and Japan are at $1,380-1,420/mt C&F, 1 ¼"-1 ½" pipes are at $1,700-1,750/mt C&F, while ½"-1" pipes are being given to the UAE at $1,800-1,850/mt C&F. Quotations of seamless pipes from France and Germany (V&M) are at the same price level as the Italian and Japanese material.