Demand for seamless pipes in Turkey has started to weaken over the past month due to the seasonal lull in summer. Over the past month quotations of Chinese seamless pipes have decreased by $30-50/mt. Import quotations of Ukrainian seamless pipes have remained almost unchanged over the same period, dropping down by only $5-10/mt. Offers of Russian seamless pipes from TMK have decreased by $20/mt over the period under review. At the same time, quotations for seamless pipes from Romanian suppliers have increased by $35-40/mt over the same period mainly due to currency fluctuations. The majority of seamless pipe suppliers are not anticipating major sales in the coming period due to the holiday season and the approaching month of Ramadan, and so it is quite probable that import quotations of seamless pipes will remain at relatively stable levels. Meanwhile, import offers of seamless pipes may rise for delivery in September when the seasonal lull is expected to be over.
According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK), in April this year Turkey imported 16,232 metric tons of seamless pipes, indicating a decrease of 31 percent from the March level and down 36 percent year on year. Meanwhile, Turkey's imports of seamless pipes in the first four months of this year reached 83,223 metric tons, up 30 percent on the corresponding period of last year.
Current quotations for Chinese seamless pipes of 2"-10" Sch 40 grade B made to ASTM A106/ASTM A53 are in the range of $950-1,020/mt CFR Turkey's Marmara Sea ports, while 2"-10" Sch 80 pipes are at $980-1,200/mt CFR. Import offers of Chinese 1" Sch 40 pipes are at $990-1,140/mt CFR, ¾" Sch 40 pipes are at $1,120-1,205/mt CFR, while ½" Sch 40 pipes are at $1,160-1,220/mt CFR.
July production pipes from Ukrainian producer Interpipe with diameter of 48.3-355 mm made of steel grade 10, 20 according to GOST 8731/8732 are being offered to the Turkish market at about $1,100-1,130/mt CFR, while quotations of seamless pipes made to ASTM A106 are at $1,140-1,160/mt CFR.
Offer prices ex-Ukraine from Duferco partner Dnepropetrovsk Tube Plant of 57-168 mm seamless pipes as per GOST 8731/8732 are at around $1,110-1,140/mt CFR for July production.
Quotations of Russian seamless pipes from TMK (Volzhsky PP and Tagmet) with diameter up to 219.1 mm made to GOST 8731/8732 are being given to the Turkish market at about $1,130-1,140/mt CFR for July-August production, while quotations of seamless pipes made to ASTM A106/API 5L are at $1,180-1,200/mt CFR.
Import offers of seamless pipes from Romania (ArcelorMittal) 3"-8" of grade B made to ASTM A106 are being given to the local market of Turkey at $1,570-1,640/mt CPT.