Foreign suppliers of seamless pipes have continued to increase their prices for the UAE market amid rising raw materials costs. At the same time market players report improving demand from customers in the UAE due to the resumption of suspended investment projects. The small positive fluctuation in economic growth evidenced after the winter has led to growth in demand for seamless pipes as inventory levels are low. Chinese suppliers have raised their seamless pipe prices for the UAE by $50-60/mt over the past month. Quotations of seamless pipes from Ukraine have increased by $110-130/mt over the period under review. Russian suppliers have raised their prices by $150/mt. Quotations for Romanian seamless pipes have risen by $200/mt over the past month. Prices for seamless pipes from the Czech Republic have been hiked by $130-150/mt. Top-tier producers from Argentina (Tenaris) and Japan (Sumitomo) have lifted their prices by $200/mt over the analyzed period. It is expected that import quotations of seamless pipes will continue to rise in the coming period due to higher production costs.
In particular, import offers of Chinese seamless pipes 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are being given to the local UAE market at $900-950/mt C&F.
Quotations of Ukrainian (Interpipe) seamless pipes 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are at $1,100-1,150/mt C&F. Offers of similar pipes with 8"-14" diameter from Russia (TMK, Volzhsky) are being given to the UAE at around $1,250-1,300/mt C&F.
Seamless pipes from Romania (ArcelorMittal) 6"-10" grade B made to API 5L are quoted at around $1,300-1,350/mt C&F Dubai. Offers of seamless pipes 2"-10" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L from the Czech Republic (ArcelorMittal Ostrava) are being given to the local UAE market at $1,250-1,270/mt C&F. Quotations of 2"-6" seamless pipes from South Africa (ArcelorMittal) grade B as per API 5L are at about $1,100-1,150/mt C&F.
Argentinian seamless pipes from Tenaris and Japanese seamless pipes from Sumitomo 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are being quoted to the UAE at $1,400-1,450/mt C&F.