Prices have continued to slide down in the seamless pipe market in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) mainly due to the quietness in the market ahead of Ramadan and due to the hot weather. In particular, import quotations of Chinese seamless pipes have decreased by $15-20/mt over the past month. Seamless pipe prices from Ukrainian and Russian producers have declined by $30-60/mt, while quotations for Romanian and South African seamless pipes have declined by $30-40/mt over the month in question. Seamless pipe offers from top-tier producers from Argentina (Tenaris) and Japan (Sumitomo) for 2"-6" sizes have decreased by $20-30/mt over the period under review. The majority of seamless pipe suppliers are not anticipating major sales in August, and so it is quite probable that quotations will remain at relatively stable levels during that month. At the same time, it is quite possible that foreign suppliers will try to hike prices for September contracts in anticipation of better demand in the market in the autumn and given the necessity for traders to replenish their stocks after the month of Ramadan.
In particular, import offers of Chinese seamless pipes 2"-10" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are being given to the local UAE market at $870-935/mt C&F. Seamless pipes from China 1"-1 ½" grade B made to API 5L are quoted at around $910-990/mt C&F, while quotations of ½"-3/4" seamless pipes are at $1,010-1,055/mt C&F.
Quotations of Ukrainian (Interpipe) seamless pipes 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are at $970-1,020/mt C&F. Offers of similar pipes with 2"-8" diameter from Russia (TMK, Volzhsky) are being given to the UAE at around $1,000-1,070/mt C&F.
Seamless pipes from Romania and South Africa (ArcelorMittal) 2"-6" grade B made to API 5L are quoted at around $1,050-1,090/mt C&F Dubai.
Italian seamless pipes from Tenaris and Japanese seamless pipes from Sumitomo 2 ½"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are being quoted to the UAE at $1,300-1,350/mt C&F, while prices of 8"-12" seamless pipes are at $1,550-1,600/mt C&F. Offers for 14" seamless pipes from the same producers are at $1,600-1,650/mt C&F, while quotations for 16" size are at $1,700-1,750/mt C&F. Quotations of 2" seamless pipes from Italy and Japan are at $1,350-1,400/mt C&F, 1 ¼"-1 ½" pipes are at $1,670-1,730/mt C&F, while ½"-1" pipes are being given to the UAE at $1,760-1,820/mt C&F. Quotations of seamless pipes from France and Germany (V&M) are at the same price level as the Italian and Japanese material.