The Saudi Arabian market is at present characterized by multiple price trends as regards seamless pipe imports. For example, Chinese seamless pipe offers for Saudi consumers have increased by $20/mt on average over almost the past two weeks. Ukrainian seamless pipe quotations have gained $45-50/mt and Russian offers have risen by $20-40/mt over the period in question. Meanwhile, Romanian, Japanese, Italian and French seamless pipe offers registered a decrease of $50-100/mt in the same period. Market participants are sure that no demand upturn will be seen during the summer months, and thus do not expect any price increase. It is possible that offers of seamless pipes to the Saudi Arabian market may see a gradual decline.
Offers of 2"-6" grade B seamless pipes made to ASTM A106/API 5L from China are being made to the Saudi Arabian market at on average $700-760/mt C&F, and at $900-1,000/mt C&F for above 12" sized.
Official quotations of Ukrainian seamless pipes 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are at $890-945/mt C&F, 8"-12" pipes are at $990-1,050/mt C&F. However, offers of 2"-10" grade B API 5L pipes may go down to $800/mt C&F.
Russian seamless pipes below 12" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are offered on average at $800-850/mt C&F, above 12" are offered at $1,050-1,100/mt C&F.
Prices for Romanian seamless pipes (ArcelorMittal) 2"-12" grade B made to API 5L are about $1,100-1,150/mt C&F.
South African seamless pipes 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L from Iscor (ArcelorMittal) are quoted in the range of $1,100-1,150/mt C&F.
Japanese seamless pipes up to 10" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L from Sumitomo are quoted to Saudi Arabia at $1,300-1,400/mt C&F.
Offers of Argentinian seamless pipes 2"-4" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L from Tenaris are being made to Saudi Arabia at $1,500-1,550/mt C&F, offers of 6" pipes are at $1,600/mt C&F, 8"-10" are at $1,650/mt C&F, and 12"-14" pipe offers are at $1,750/mt C&F.
Italian seamless pipes 16" grade B made to ASTM A 106/API 5L from Tenaris are quoted to Saudi Arabia at $2,100/mt C&F, with 18"-24" at $2,700/mt C&F, and 24" plus at $2,900/mt C&F.
Quotations of seamless pipes from France and Germany (V&M) are at the same level as Tenaris' prices.