Buying activity in the UAE seamless pipe market has slowed down over the past month ahead of Ramadan (starts end of June) when working hours are reduced. Quotations of Chinese seamless pipes for Emirati buyers have declined by a maximum of $10/mt over the past month. Import offers of Ukrainian pipes for the UAE have gone down by $25-30/mt over the same period, while quotations of Romanian pipes have declined by around $10-30/mt. Prices of Japanese and German material have decreased by a maximum of $20/mt during the given period, while Argentinian and South African suppliers have not revised their seamless pipe offers for the UAE over the past month. Meanwhile, distributors and consumers in the UAE are not showing great interest in pipe purchases before Ramadan when business activity is usually low. The market is expected to be quiet in the coming period due to the seasonal lull in summer and the approach of Ramadan.
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 $700-740/mt CFR.
Quotations of Ukrainian (Interpipe) seamless pipes, 2"-6" Sch 40 grade B made to ASTM/API, are at $1,000-1,025/mt CFR, while 8"-10" pipes are at $1,015-1,045/mt CFR.
Seamless pipes from Romania (ArcelorMittal) of 3"-10" grade B made to ASTM are quoted at about $1,340-1,390/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 $1,000-1,030/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 $1,450-1,500/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 $1,400-1,430/mt CFR.