Buying activity in the Iranian market for welded pipes has been sluggish over the past month amid seasonal factors and global downward trends. However, most Iranian welded pipe producers have managed to keep their domestic prices unchanged from the month-ago levels, though prices in the US dollar terms have surged by $85-90/mt amid currency fluctuations. The outlook for further developments in the Iranian welded pipe market remains pessimistic, and so some downward price movements may be seen in the coming month.
Iranian producers' current domestic prices for 6"-8" welded pipes with 2 mm wall thickness of grade B made to ASTM/API are at $645-660/mt (IRR 20,000-20,500/mt) ex-works, while quotations of 10"-14" pipes are at about $680-695/mt (IRR 21,000-21,500/mt) ex-works. Prices are exclusive of five percent VAT.
Chinese welded pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A53/API 5L, are currently being offered to the Iranian market at $680-710/mt CFR, compared to $700-750/mt CFR one month ago. However, no deals have been reported so far.
$1 = IRR 31.0 interbank exchange rate
$1 = IRR 12.14 official exchange rate