In general, export quotations of seamless pipes from Russian and Ukrainian producers have remained unchanged at the levels of one month ago, though some pipe producers have tried to increase their offers by $10-20/mt. However, foreign demand for standard seamless pipes remains too weak to support any price increase due to poor demand from end-users. Meanwhile, market players are optimistic, expecting foreign traders to start purchasing import material in September to replenish their stocks due to seasonally higher business activity in autumn. As a result, CIS exporters will likely try to increase their seamless pipe prices in the near future.
Export prices from Ukrainian mill Interpipe for September-October production hot-formed seamless pipes of 42-114 mm diameter as per GOST or ASTM currently vary in the range of $1,045-1,080/mt FOB, while quotations of pipes of 168-325 mm diameter are at $1,075-1,130/mt FOB.
Duferco is offering seamless pipes (Dnepropetrovsk Tube Works, Ukraine) of 42-168 mm diameter as per GOST at around $1,080-1,100/mt FOB from September production, while quotations of pipes of 168-323 mm diameter are at $1,120-1,150/mt FOB.
Export offers of January production seamless hot-formed pipes with diameter of 323.8-406.4 mm made to ASTM from Russian producer TMK's subsidiary Volzhsky Pipe Plant are at $1,320-1,350/mt FOB.
Seamless pipes with 114.3-168.3 mm diameter as per ASTM from Tagmet (TMK Group) are quoted in the range of $1,100-1,120/mt FOB for September-October production.
Seamless hot-formed pipes with diameter of 33.4-88.9 mm made to ASTM from Sinarsky PP are quoted at $1,310-1,330/mt FOB for September-October production.
Export offers of Russian seamless pipes of 60.3-168.3 mm diameter, made to ASTM, from Uraltrubostal (Pervouralsky Novotrubny Works) are at $960-1,000/mt FOB, for November output, while pipes of 323.9-406.4 mm diameter are at around $1,150-1,180/mt FOB.