Business activity in the Turkish seamless pipe market remains slack amid scarce buying activity in consuming sectors and the global downward trend. Most foreign suppliers of seamless pipes have been forced to lower their prices under pressure from Turkish buyers. Thus, prices for Chinese seamless pipes have declined by a minimum of $30/mt over the past month, while prices of Russian seamless pipes have moved down by around $10-20/mt over the same period. However, at the same time, import quotations of Romanian seamless pipes have increased by around $20/mt amid currency fluctuations. Import offers of Ukrainian material have remained unchanged as contracts are concluded on quarterly basis. In the meantime, Turkish buyers are mostly postponing their purchases as they prefer to wait for lower offers. Market players believe the seamless pipe sector in Turkey is unlikely to see positive changes in the coming month.
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 $800-900/mt CFR.
June production pipes from Ukrainian producers of 2"-6" grade B as per ASTM A106/API 5L are being offered to the Turkish market at about $935-955/mt CFR, while pipes with 60.3-168.3 mm diameter of steel grade 10, 20 made to GOST are quoted at around $915-935/mt CFR.
Russian producer ChTPZ Group (Pervouralsky Novotrubny Works) is offering July-August production seamless hot-formed pipes with diameter up to 219 mm made to GOST 8731/8732 at about $910-920/mt CFR, while pipes of grade B made to ASTM are quoted at around $930-940/mt CFR.
Import offers of seamless pipes from Romania (ArcelorMittal), 3"-10" pipes of grade B made to ASTM A106 or API 5L, are being given to the Turkish market at around $1,300-1,310/mt CPT, while offers of 16" seamless pipes are at about $1,465-1,475/mt CPT.