During the week ending December 25, average Chinese steel pipe export offer prices have moved sideways. At present, export offers for API 5L seamless pipe given by Chinese suppliers are in the range of $595-680/mt FOB, while export offers for API 5L welded pipe given by Chinese suppliers are at $510-530/mt FOB, February shipment.
Product name |
Quality |
Spec. |
Price ($/mt) FOB |
Weekly change ($/mt) |
API 5L seamless pipe |
Gr.B |
2’’-6’’ Std |
637.5 |
0 |
Seamless pipe, casing |
J55 |
3’’-8’’ Std |
687.5 |
0 |
Seamless pipe, tubing |
ST37 |
< 3’’ Std |
922.5 |
0 |
Welded pipes |
Gr.B |
2’’-6’’ Std |
520 |
0 |
During the given week, domestic demand for steel pipe has slackened as construction activities suspended amid cold weather in northern China, though the demand in southern China has been better, while at low levels. However, domestic steel pipe prices have not declined to a level that buyers would want to build up their stocks, this has exerted a negative impact on steel pipe export market.
Rebar futures prices at Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) stand at RMB 3,485/mt ($497.4/mt) on December 25, up RMB 9/mt ($1.3/mt) from December 18.
$1 = RMB 7.0067