Although demand is still weak in the welded pipe market in the UAE amid slow construction activity, local producers have stopped reducing their offers amid some increases in prices of hot rolled coil (HRC). Most local pipe makers have not been able to shift the extra cost on to buyers and have kept their prices unchanged over the past month. Nevertheless, market players believe demand will improve in January and that prices will start to move up.
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 $800-840/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 $830-890/mt ex-works. Current domestic prices of 1"-4" galvanized ERW pipes with 2-4 mm wall thickness are in the range of $950-1,000/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 $800-850/mt CFR, against $830-850/mt CFR one month ago.
Indian suppliers are offering ERW pipes, 1"-6" as per BS 1387 (light series), to the UAE at $830-860/mt CFR, $20-40/mt lower than one month ago.