During the week ending January 16, average Chinese steel pipe export offer prices have indicated an overall upward trend. At present, export offers for API 5L seamless pipe given by Chinese suppliers are in the range of $620-710/mt FOB, while export offers for API 5L welded pipe given by Chinese suppliers are at $530-550/mt FOB.
During the given week, pipe producers in China have mostly been producing on the basis of orders received, while they been unwilling to increase their inventory levels ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday (February 2-10). Demand has been slack from downstream users, while some traders have started to conclude purchases to build up inventories. It is thought that steel pipe export prices from China will likely move sideways in the coming week.
Product name |
Quality |
Spec. |
Price ($/mt) FOB |
Weekly change ($/mt) |
API 5L Seamless pipe |
Gr.B |
2’’-6’’ Std |
665 |
↑10 |
Seamless pipe, casing |
J55 |
3’’-8’’ Std |
710 |
↑12.5 |
Seamless pipe, tubing |
ST37 |
< 3’’ Std |
967.5 |
↑15 |
Welded pipes |
Gr.B |
2’’-6’’ Std |
540 |
↑10 |