Demand for welded pipes from consuming industries is still rather weak in the UAE. Emirati producers have cut their welded pipe offers by $5/mt over the past month. However, import quotations of Chinese material have moved up by a maximum of $20/mt over the same period. Market participants believe that domestic welded pipe prices in the UAE may start to move up in the coming period given rising production costs, an anticipated rebound in buying activity and the upturn in global prices.
UAE domestic prices for locally produced ½"-4" welded pipes with 2-4 mm wall thickness of grade B made to ASTM A53 or BS 1387 are at about $715-745/mt ex-works. Prices are given on theoretical weight basis.
Domestic quotations of ½"-4" welded pipes with 1.5-1.8 mm wall thickness of grade B made to ASTM or BS 1387 are at about $730-775/mt ex-works. Current domestic prices of 1"-4" galvanized ERW pipes with 2-4 mm wall thickness are in the range of $905-925/mt ex-works.
Offers of Chinese ERW pipes up to 10" grade B as per ASTM are being given to the UAE market at about $700-750/mt CFR, compared to $700-730/mt one month ago.
Indian suppliers are offering ERW pipes, 1"-6" as per BS 1387 (light series), to the UAE at $700-720/mt CFR on actual weight basis, compared to $710-740/mt CFR one month ago.