While seamless pipe demand in the Turkish market has indicated a very slight improvement over the past month, most import prices of seamless pipes for Turkish customers have declined over the same period due to tough competition with Chinese material. Thus, import offers of seamless pipes from Ukraine have declined by $35-50/mt, quotations of Romanian pipes have moved down by $20-30/mt, while prices of Chinese seamless pipes have decreased by $10-30/mt, all during the period in question. Only offers of Russian seamless pipes have increased by $20-30/mt over the past month supported by strong demand in the Russian domestic market. Market players state that the ongoing tightness of liquidity, the summer holiday mood and some uncertainties in the market still restrain seamless pipe demand growth in Turkey. However, seamless pipe suppliers may start to raise their offers for the Turkish market in autumn in line with the strengthening market and raw material prices.
Chinese suppliers are offering seamless pipes of 2"-12" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L to the Turkish market in the price range of $700-770/mt CFR.
Ukrainian producers' offers for 60-273 mm seamless pipes of grade 10, 20 as per GOST are being given to the Turkish market at about $800-830/mt CFR, while 2"-10" pipes as per ASTM/API are quoted at around $820-865/mt CFR.
Russian producer ChTPZ Group (Pervouralsky Novotrubny Works) is offering 2"-6" seamless hot-formed pipes of grade B made to ASTM at about $800-850/mt CFR Turkey.
Import offers of seamless pipes from Romania (ArcelorMittal), 3"-10" of grade B made to ASTM A106 or API 5L, are being given to the Turkish market at around $1,270-1,320/mt CPT.