Seamless pipe demand from Emirati consuming industries has remained scarce. Local traders continue to buy only small lots of material to cover current needs, having sufficient inventories. As a result, most foreign suppliers have had to reduce prices over the past month amid efforts to spur buying activity. Only Chinese suppliers have left their offers unchanged over the past month, while prices for seamless pipes from South Africa have softened by $10-30/mt.
Ukrainian suppliers have cut their quotations by around $20/mt over the same period, while prices for Romanian seamless pipes have decreased by $20-30/mt. Import offers of seamless pipes from Argentina, Japan and Germany have gone down by $20-50/mt over the past month. However, local buyers are hesitating to conclude bookings, taking into account the uncertain situation in the market. In the meantime, seamless pipe suppliers hope to raise their prices in January due to higher raw material quotations and the anticipated buying upturn at the beginning of the year.
Most offers of Chinese seamless pipes of 2"-8" grade B made to ASTM/API are being given to the local UAE market at $800-850/mt CFR, while offers from some big Chinese producers may reach $900-930/mt CFR. Offers of 7"-9 5/8" casing of J55 and K55 grade as per API 5CT from Chinese suppliers are coming to the UAE at around $900-950/mt CFR.
Quotations of Ukrainian (Interpipe) seamless pipes, 2"-6" Sch 40 grade B made to ASTM/API, are at $1,060-1,090/mt CFR, while 8"-10" Sch 40 pipes are at $1,090-1,120/mt CFR.
Seamless pipes from Romania (ArcelorMittal) of 3"-10" grade B made to ASTM are quoted at about $1,400-1,430/mt CFR.
South African (ArcelorMittal) seamless pipes, 3"-6" grade B made to ASTM/API, are being quoted to the UAE in the range of $1,070-1,100/mt CFR.
Offers of seamless pipes from Argentina, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM/API from Tenaris, are being given to the UAE at $1,500-1,550/mt CFR.