The UAE welded pipe market remains sluggish. Having rather high stocks, Emirati traders refuse to sign new contracts amid slack demand from consuming industries. Domestic producers of welded pipes have reduced their offers by around $10/mt over the past month amid slow demand from local customers. Import offers of welded pipes from India have declined by $50-60/mt, while quotations of South Korean pipes have decreased by $30-50/mt over the past month. Import prices of Chinese material have stayed at the previous level.
Market participants believe construction activity will not improve in the next few months and that buying activity in the welded pipe market will remain low in the short term.
UAE domestic prices for locally produced ½"-4" welded pipes with 2-4 mm wall thickness of grade B made to ASTM A53 or BS 1387 are at about $730-760/mt ex-works. Prices are given on theoretical weight basis.
Domestic quotations of ½"-4" welded pipes with 1.5-1.8 mm wall thickness of grade B made to ASTM or BS 1387 are at about $750-800/mt ex-works. Current domestic prices of 1"-4" galvanized ERW pipes with 2-4 mm wall thickness are in the range of $870-940/mt ex-works.
Offers of Chinese ERW pipes up to 10" grade B as per ASTM are being given to the UAE market at about $750-800/mt CFR. Indian suppliers are offering ERW pipes, 1"-6" as per BS 1387 (light series), to the UAE at $720-750/mt CFR on actual weight basis. South Korean 10"-20" ERW pipes grade B made to ASTM A53/API 5L are being offered to the UAE at on average $800-850/mt CFR.