Domestic and export prices for welded pipes have remained unchanged in the Chinese market over the past two weeks amid sliding consumption in the domestic market caused by the extremely hot summer weather and ongoing slack foreign demand. Buyers are reluctant to accept high prices due to a probable downturn in feedstock quotations expected by mid-August.
Current offers of locally produced 2"-6" welded pipes of grade B as per ASTM A53 are being given to the Chinese domestic market at an average of RMB 4,300-4,400/mt ($697-713/mt) ex-works. These local market welded pipe prices include 17 percent VAT. Traders in Shanghai are offering Q215-Q235 welded pipes made to GB/T3091 at around RMB 3,750-3,900/mt ($608-632/mt) ex-warehouse, while stockists in the cities of Tianjin and Beijing are offering similar pipes at RMB 3,610-3,700/mt ($585-600/mt) ex-warehouse.
Current export prices of welded pipes from large Chinese mills, 2"-10" grade B according to ASTM A53, are at around $640-680/mt FOB on actual weight basis, while 2"-10" pipes of grade B as per API 5L are at about $710-760/mt FOB.