Demand in the seamless pipe market in Germany has weakened somewhat over the past month as business activity is slowing down in view of seasonal factors and the oncoming holidays in the EU. Moreover, local traders are well-stocked and German buyers are mostly booking small lots for prompt shipment to cover immediate needs. German producers have kept their seamless pipe prices in euro terms at the same levels as one month ago, but due to currency fluctuations prices in dollar terms have decreased by $13-14/mt. Import prices of Ukrainian material have decreased by a maximum of €10/mt ($25/mt) over the past month, while offers of Chinese, Romanian and Italian pipes have remained unchanged. Market players hope that seamless pipe prices will not fall further in the remainder of the year, while the market is expected to stand still in December.
German 2"-6" seamless pipes of grade S355 made to EN 10210 are being offered to local buyers at around €900-920/mt ($1,111-1,136/mt) delivered.
Export quotations of German 2"-4" seamless pipes of grade B as per ASTM A106 are in the range of €880-920/mt ($1,087-1,136/mt) FCA on theoretical weight basis.
Prices for Chinese seamless pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L, are at about €530-560/mt ($654-692/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 €770-800/mt ($951-988/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 €950-980/mt ($1,173-1,210/mt) CPT.
Prices for Italian seamless pipes of 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106 are at about €1,020-1,050/mt ($1,260-1,297/mt) CPT.
€1 = $1.23