Buyer activity has remained weak in the UAE market for seamless pipes amid slack demand from consuming industries and traders have preferred to keep their inventories at moderate levels due to slow implementation of infrastructure projects in the country.
Most foreign suppliers have cut their offers amid slow buying in the market. Only European suppliers have increased their quotations mainly due to the devaluation of the US dollar against the euro. Prices of Chinese seamless pipes have decreased by $20-50/mt over the past month. Import offers of seamless pipes from Ukraine have declined by $10-30/mt, while quotations of pipes from South Africa have gone down by $100/mt over the past month. Offers of Argentinian material have decreased by $120-180/mt. At the same time, offers for seamless pipes from Italy have increased by $40/mt, while prices of Romanian seamless pipes have gone up by $90-100/mt over the past month.
Buyers in the UAE have remained cautious regarding new purchases and are waiting for further decreases in prices for import seamless pipes amid the global downward trends.
Most offers of Chinese seamless pipes of 2"-8" grade B made to ASTM/API are being given to the local UAE market at $800-880/mt CFR, while quotations of 18"-22" pipes are at around $990-1,010/mt CFR.
Quotations of Ukrainian (Interpipe) seamless pipes, 2"-12" Sch 40 grade B made to ASTM, are at $1,100-1,150/mt CFR.
Seamless pipes from Romania (ArcelorMittal) of 3"-10" grade B made to ASTM are quoted at about $1,400-1,420/mt CFR Dubai, while offers of 12"-14" pipes are being given at $1,440-1,480/mt CFR.
South African (ArcelorMittal) seamless pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM/API, are being quoted to the UAE in the range of $1,200-1,220/mt CFR.
Offers of seamless pipes from Argentina, 2"-8" grade B made to ASTM/API from Tenaris, are being given to the UAE at $1,480-1,520/mt CFR.
Offers of seamless pipes from Italy, 20"-24" Sch 40 grade B made to ASTM from Tenaris Dalmine, are being given to the UAE at $2,490-2,520/mt CFR, while 8"-10" Sch 40 seamless pipes are being quoted to the UAE at about $1,690-1,740/mt CFR.
Quotations from France and Germany (V&M) and from Japan (Sumitomo) for seamless pipes of 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM/API are at about $1,430-1,480/mt CFR.