Seamless pipe buyers in Saudi Arabia still show little demand amid the slackness in consuming sectors and high stock levels. In spite of softer demand, some suppliers have kept prices unchanged, while others have even raised them. Thus, offers of seamless pipe suppliers from Ukraine and Japan have remained stable over the past month. Chinese suppliers have increased their seamless pipe offer prices by $10-20/mt from one month ago, while quotations of South African material have lost around $20-30/mt. Meanwhile, dramatic changes are unlikely to be seen in the near term. Demand may rebound in early February, when traders will need to replenish their stocks, market players believe.
Most offers of Chinese seamless pipes of 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM are being given to the Saudi Arabian market at $800-850/mt CFR.
Quotations of Ukrainian seamless pipes (Interpipe) of 2"-10" grade B made to ASTM A106 to Saudi Arabia are at $1,020-1,050/mt CFR, while 1" pipes are at around $1,200/mt CFR.
South African seamless pipes (ArcelorMittal), 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106, are quoted at around $1,000-1,030/mt CFR Saudi Arabia.
Quotations from Japan (NSSMC) for seamless pipes of 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are at about $1,420-1,480/mt CFR Saudi Arabia.