CIS seamless pipe exporters have maintained their prices mostly unchanged over the past month, amid rather weak buying activity in the key market outlets. Market players are generally pessimistic about the prospects for future market developments.
Demand for standard seamless pipes in the export market is falling and will not improve in the short run due to the approaching Christmas and New Year holidays. Seasonally slack demand from end-users and traders will prevent CIS seamless pipe exporters from achieving higher prices for the time being. Seamless pipe suppliers from the CIS hope to see better market conditions at the beginning of next year.
Export prices from Ukrainian mill Interpipe for December production hot-formed seamless pipes of 42-219 mm diameter as per GOST or ASTM currently vary in the range of $1,000-1,070/mt FOB, while pipes of 33.4 mm diameter are at about $1,400-1,420/mt FOB.
Seamless pipes with 114.3-273 mm diameter as per ASTM or GOST from Tagmet (TMK Group) are quoted in the range of $1,010-1,030/mt FOB for January production.
Seamless hot-formed pipes with diameter of 33.4-88.9 mm made to ASTM from Sinarsky PP are quoted at $1,250-1,260/mt FOB for January production, while pipes made to GOST are at $1,100-1,110/mt FOB.
Seamless pipes with 89-219 mm diameter of steel grade 10, 20 as per GOST from Volzhsky pipe plant (TMK Group) are quoted in the range of $960-980/mt FOB for January production.
Export offers of Russian seamless pipes of 60.3-114.3 mm diameter, made to ASTM or GOST, from ChTPZ Group are at $940-960/mt FOB, for January output, while pipes of 168.3-219.1 mm diameter are also in the range of $940-960/mt FOB, but for June-July 2013 output.