The seamless pipe market in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has remained subdued over the past month due to the long religious holiday. Weak demand in the region, competition from cheap Chinese material and falling prices for round billets have caused most seamless pipe suppliers to decrease their offers for the UAE. Chinese suppliers have reduced their seamless pipe prices for the UAE by $10-40/mt over the past month. Seamless pipe prices from Ukrainian producers have gone down by $50-60/mt. Import offers of Russian seamless pipes have stayed at previous levels for 2"-8" sizes, while offers of 10"-16" pipes have declined by $100/mt over the past month. Seamless pipe prices from Romania and South Africa have remained stable over the period under review. Seamless pipe offers from top-tier producers from Japan (Sumitomo) and Argentina (Tenaris) have moved down by $90-100/mt over the past month. Foreign suppliers continue to hope for increased buying activity in the region in early 2011. Up to January, import quotations of seamless pipes may continue to slide down due to weak demand and lower production costs.
Offers of Chinese seamless pipes 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are being given to the local UAE market at $890-950/mt C&F.
Quotations of Ukrainian (Interpipe) seamless pipes 2"-12" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are at $1,020-1,050/mt C&F. Offers of similar pipes with 2"-8" diameter from Russia (TMK, Volzhsky) are being given to the UAE at around $980-1,000/mt C&F, while 10"-16" pipes are at $1,010-1,050/mt C&F.
Seamless pipes from Romania (ArcelorMittal) 2"-6" grade B made to API 5L are quoted at around $1,280-1,335/mt C&F Dubai.
South African seamless pipes from Iscor (Arcelor Mittal) 2"-6" grade B made to API 5L are quoted at around $1,070-1,100/mt C&F Dubai.
Offers of 3"-10" seamless pipes from the Czech Republic (ArcelorMittal) are being given to the UAE at $1,350-1,380/mt C&F, while 1"-1 ½" pipes are at $1,420-1,450/mt C&F.
Argentinian and Italian seamless pipes from Tenaris and Japanese seamless pipes from Sumitomo 8"-10" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are being quoted to the UAE at $1,300-1,350/mt C&F, while 2 ½"-6" seamless pipes are at $1,200-1,250/mt C&F.
Quotations of 8"-10" seamless pipes grade B as per API 5L from France and Germany (V&M) are at $1,450-1,500/mt C&F.