Prices for both welded and seamless steel pipes in Iran have continued to fluctuate at low levels in consideration of soft demand. Local producers' domestic offers of Iranian seamless pipes have stayed unchanged over the past month, while Iranian traders’ price range has narrowed, with the lower end rising by $15/mt and the upper end decreasing by $35/mt during the period in question. At the same time, Iranian mills have increased their welded pipe prices by a maximum of IRR 0.5 million ($17/mt) on the back of slightly higher flat steel quotations, while local stockists' prices have moved up by a maximum of $10/mt over the period under review. Construction activity in Iran remains low amid cold weather and Iranian steel pipe suppliers report low order levels. Iranian consumers remain quite cautious as the market continues to be characterized by uncertainty. Market participants expect demand to remain sluggish in the near term and the market is unlikely to see any significant changes.
Current domestic prices for Iranian seamless pipes, 2"-4" grade B made to API 5L, are in the range of $800-830/mt ex-works. Iranian producers' current domestic prices for 6"-14" welded pipes with 2 mm wall thickness of grade B made to ASTM/API are at IRR 21.5-23.0 million/mt ($720-770/mt) ex-works.
Stockists' quotations of Iranian 1"-3" seamless pipes, grade B made to API 5L, are in the range of $765-780/mt ex-warehouse, compared to $750-815/mt ex-warehouse one month ago.
Local stockists' prices for welded pipes of 1"-3" size from Iranian producers are at about $760-795/mt ex-warehouse, compared to $750-795/mt ex-warehouse one month ago. Offers of 20 x 20 mm - 100 x 100 mm hollow sections ex-warehouse Tehran are on average at $570-580/mt ex-warehouse, $40/mt higher compared to one month ago.
$1 = IRR 30,093