Import offers of seamless pipes for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have started to decline, mainly due to the weak international market. Only European suppliers have been forced to increase their quotations on account of the weakness of the US dollar. Chinese suppliers have decreased their seamless pipe prices for the UAE by $10-50/mt over the past month. Seamless pipe prices from Ukrainian and Russian producers have gone down by $20-50/mt. Seamless pipe prices from South Africa have declined by $100/mt over the period under review. Seamless pipe offers from a top-tier producer from Japan (Sumitomo) have moved down by $150-185/mt over the past month. At the same time, quotations for Romanian seamless pipes have risen by $5-35/mt, while Czech suppliers have lifted their offers by $100/mt over the month in question. Import seamless pipe prices may continue to follow a downward trend in the coming period due to strong competition in the market and ongoing softness of demand.
Offers of Chinese seamless pipes 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are being given to the local UAE market at $900-990/mt C&F.
Quotations of Ukrainian (Interpipe) seamless pipes 2"-12" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are at $1,080-1,100/mt C&F. Offers of similar pipes with 2"-8" diameter from Russia (TMK, Volzhsky) are being given to the UAE at around $960-1,000/mt C&F, while 10"-16" pipes are at $1,100-1,150/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.
Offers of 3"-10" seamless pipes from the Czech Republic (ArcelorMittal) are being given to the UAE at $1,380-1,400/mt C&F, while 1"-1 ½" pipes are at $1,450-1,470/mt C&F.
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.
Argentinian and Italian seamless pipes from Tenaris and Japanese seamless pipes from Sumitomo 8"-12" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are being quoted to the UAE at $1,390-1,450/mt C&F, while 2 ½"-6" seamless pipes are at $1,300-1,350/mt C&F. Quotations of seamless pipes from France and Germany (V&M) are at the same price level as the Argentinian, Italian and Japanese material.