Activity in the export market for CIS-origin seamless pipes has been weak over the past month amid poor demand in the key market outlets. Nevertheless, export offers of seamless pipes from the CIS have continued to move up amid rising production costs. Ukrainian and Russian seamless pipe exporters have increased their prices by $10-30/mt over the past month. However, it is early to assert that the price increases are acceptable to overseas buyers as most of them are still observing the market situation. Due to falling scrap prices, most buyers think that seamless pipe quotations may decline in the coming period.
Export prices from Ukrainian mill Interpipe for May production 2"-6" seamless pipes of grade B made to ASTM A106 are quoted at around $970-1,030/mt FOB for the Middle East market, while pipes as per EN are offered at about $850-930/mt ex-works for the European market.
Export offers of May production seamless pipes of 60-168 mm diameter, of 10, 20 steel grades according to GOST 8731/8732 or ASTM A106, from Ukraine's Dnepropetrovsk Tube Works are at $1,000-1,020/mt FOB.
Russia-based ChTPZ Group's export quotations for May-June production hot-formed pipes with diameter of 60.3-219 mm of 10, 20 steel grades according to GOST 8731/8732 or ASTM A106 are at $870-900/mt FOB.
Seamless pipes with 57-219 mm diameter of 10, 20 steel grades as per GOST 8731/8732 from Volzhsky Pipe Plant (TMK Group, Russia) are quoted in the range of $950-980/mt FOB.