Demand is getting weaker in the Iranian market for seamless pipes due to tight liquidity amid political and economic instability in the country and also due to seasonal effects. Over the past month, local stockists in Iran have cut their seamless pipe prices by $10-55/mt. Import quotations of Chinese seamless pipes have decreased by a maximum of $40/mt. Ukrainian seamless pipes have moved down by $70-100/mt during the past month, while quotations of Russian material have decreased by $50-70/mt over the same period. Despite lower import offers, Iranian buyers are showing no interest in purchases amid weak demand and poor liquidity. The situation is unlikely to improve in the coming short-term period due to seasonal factors and the economic slump.
Local stockists' prices for domestic production seamless pipes of ¾"-3" size are at about $1,420-1,955/mt ex-warehouse, compared with $1,430-2,010/mt ex-warehouse one month ago.
Import offers of Chinese seamless pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L, are being given to the local Iranian market at $950-1,000/mt CFR Bandar Abbas.
Quotations of Ukrainian seamless pipes of 2"-12" size grade B as per ASTM A106 are at about $1,110-1,160/mt CFR Bandar Abbas for December-January production.
Russian pipes of 2"-8" grade B as per ASTM A106 are being offered to northern Iranian ports at $1,080-1,150/mt CFR Anzali.
Iranian stockists' domestic prices for locally produced seamless pipes:
($/mt, ex-warehouse)
Diameter Price Change*
¾" 1,770 -40
½" 1,755 -55
1" 1,955 -55
2 ½" 1,435 -35
3" 1,420 -10
*over the past four weeks