In the UAE, local and foreign suppliers of welded pipes have been forced to decrease their prices again amid low end-user demand and soft flat steel quotations. Domestic prices for locally produced pipes have decreased by $5-10/mt over the past month, while welded pipe sales and demand have remained on the slack side. Prices for Chinese and Indian welded pipes have decreased by $10-30/mt over the period in question. The market situation in the UAE may improve by the end of winter under the influence of seasonal factors and low stocks.
UAE domestic prices for locally produced ½"-4" welded pipes with 2-4 mm wall thickness of grade B made to ASTM A53 or BS 1387 are at about $670-690/mt ex-works. Prices are given on theoretical weight basis.
Domestic quotations of 1"-4" welded pipes with 1.5-1.8 mm wall thickness of grade B made to ASTM or BS 1387 are at about $680-710/mt ex-works. Current domestic prices of 1"-4" galvanized ERW pipes with 2-4 mm wall thickness are in the range of $860-875/mt ex-works.
Offers of Chinese ERW pipes up to 10" grade B as per ASTM are being given to the UAE market at about $530-570/mt CFR, $30/mt lower than one month ago.
Indian suppliers are offering ERW pipes, 1"-6" as per BS 1387 (light series), to the UAE at $670-680/mt CFR, $10-20/mt lower than one month ago.