Over the past month, demand in the Saudi Arabian seamless pipe market has weakened due to the coming religious holiday and relatively high stocks. Most foreign suppliers of seamless pipes have cut prices to stimulate sales. Chinese suppliers have cut their seamless pipe offer prices by $10-30/mt from one month ago, while quotations of Ukrainian material have lost around $50/mt. Seamless pipe suppliers from South Africa have decreased their offers for the Saudi market by $20/mt over the past month, while prices of Japanese seamless pipes have remained firm. Business activity may pick up by the end of month after the holidays are over, 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, while quotations of seamless pipes from larger Chinese mills are at $930-960/mt CFR.
Quotations of Ukrainian seamless pipes (Interpipe) of 2"-10" grade B made to ASTM A106 to Saudi Arabia are at $1,020-1,060/mt CFR, while offers of seamless pipes as per API 5L are at $1,040-1,080/mt CFR.
South African seamless pipes (ArcelorMittal), 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106, are quoted at around $1,050-1,080/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 $1,425-1,475/mt CFR Saudi Arabia.