During the week ending November 20, 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 $510-530/mt FOB, December shipment.
Product name |
Quality |
Spec. |
Price ($/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, Chinese steel pipe producers’ production has been negatively affected due to environmental protection measures taken to respond to heavy air pollution, resulting in a supply shortage in the market, which has provided support for steel pipe prices. However, since it has been cold in northern China, demand for steel pipe there has been slack, exerting a negative impact on steel pipe prices.
Rebar futures prices at Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) stood at RMB 3,676/mt ($525/mt) on November 20, up RMB 234/mt ($33.0/mt) compared to November 13, signaling an improvement in sentiment in the futures market following China’s central bank’ measures to inject liquidity into the economy.
$1 = RMB 7.00118