Business activity in the Spanish seamless pipe market has slowed down owing to the summer holidays and maintenance shutdowns in August. Prices for locally produced material have declined by €5-20/mt ($6-23/mt) over the past month as demand has remained subdued, while their prices on dollar basis have increased by $32-56/mt due to the fluctuation of the exchange rate. Import prices of Chinese and Ukrainian seamless pipes for Spain have decreased by €45-50/mt ($51-57/mt) in the past month, while offers of Italian seamless pipes have gone down by €20-25/mt ($23-29/mt). Market players hope that end-user demand for seamless pipes from key user sectors in Spain and other EU countries may see a gradual revival in the last quarter of this year. Meanwhile, any upward movement in seamless pipe prices is expected to be limited amid slow economic growth both at home and abroad.
Current Spanish domestic prices for 2"-4" hot-formed seamless pipes, grade B made to ASTM A106, are at around €950-1,000/mt ($1,083-1,140/mt) ex-works.
Current export prices of Spanish seamless pipes, 2"-4" grade B according to ASTM A106, are varying at around €980-1,030/mt ($1,117-1,174/mt) FOB.
Prices for Chinese seamless pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L, are at about €550-600/mt ($627-684/mt) CFR Spain, exclusive of antidumping duties.
Offers of Ukrainian seamless pipes, 2"-6" grade B according to API 5L, are being given to Spain at €750-780/mt ($885-889/mt) CPT. Prices are shown exclusive of antidumping duty.
Quotations of Italian seamless pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106, to Spain are at €1,010-1,065/mt ($1,151-1,214/mt) CPT.
€1 = $1.14