Although buying activity in the seamless
pipe market in the
UAE is still not so strong and though stocks remain fairly full, some foreign suppliers have raised their quotations for this market, apart from the Chinese sellers who have reduced their prices by around $30/mt over the past month. At the same time, import offers of Ukrainian line pipes for the
UAE have gone up by $25-30/mt over the past month, while quotations of Romanian pipes have moved up by a maximum of $10/mt. Prices of South African material have increased by a maximum of $20/mt during the given period. Japanese, Argentinian and German suppliers have not revised their seamless
pipe offers for the
UAE over the past month. Market insiders remain optimistic regarding the prospects for the market on the back of a number of infrastructure and construction projects in the country, which are expected to boost demand for seamless pipes.
Most offers of seamless pipes of 2"-8" grade B made to ASTM/API from most Chinese mills are being given to the local
UAE market at $750-770/mt CFR.
Quotations of Ukrainian (Interpipe) seamless pipes, 2"-6" Sch 40 grade B made to ASTM/API, are at $1,010-1,040/mt CFR, while 8"-10" pipes are at $1,025-1,060/mt CFR.
Seamless pipes from Romania (ArcelorMittal) of 3"-10" grade B made to ASTM are quoted at about $1,370-1,420/mt CFR.
South African (ArcelorMittal) seamless pipes, 3"-6" grade B made to ASTM/API, are being quoted to the
UAE in the range of $1,020-1,050/mt CFR.
Offers of seamless pipes from Argentina, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM/API from Tenaris, are being given to the
UAE at $1,500-1,550/mt CFR.
Quotations from France and Germany (V&M) and from Japan (NSSMC) for seamless pipes of 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM/API are at about $1,400-1,450/mt CFR.