During the week ending April 23, average Chinese steel pipe export offer prices have remained stable. At present, export offers for welded pipe given by Chinese suppliers are in the range of $450-470/mt FOB, moving sideways compared to April 16, while export offers for API 5L seamless pipe given by Chinese suppliers are at $490-500/mt FOB, June shipment, remaining unchanged compared to April 16.
| Product name | Quality | Spec. | Price ($/mt) FOB | Weekly change ($/mt) |
| API 5L seamless pipe | Gr.B | 2’’-6’’ Std | 495 | - |
| Seamless pipe, casing (hot rolled forming) | J55 | 3’’-8’’ Std | 495 | - |
| Seamless pipe, tubing (cold drawn forming) | ST37 | < 3’’ Std | 660 | - |
| Welded pipes | Gr.B | 2’’-6’’ Std | 460 | - |
During the given week, steel pipe prices in the Chinese domestic market have moved sideways amid the limited demand from downstream users. Cautious sentiments prevailed among market players, negatively affecting buying activities ahead of the Labor Day holiday (May 1-5). Traders have been willing to seek stability at current stage. It is thought that steel pipe prices in the Chinese domestic market will likely fluctuate within a limited range in the coming week.
As of April 23, HRC futures at the Shanghai Futures Exchange are standing at RMB 3,233/mt ($445/mt), increasing by RMB 28/mt ($3.9/mt) or 0.9 percent since April 16, while up 1.41 percent compared to the previous trading day, April 22.
$1 = RMB 7.2116