Buying activity in the Italian and European seamless pipe markets has been slow over the past month as Christmas is coming. Also, the weakening economy and financial problems in the region have continued to drive market uncertainty. Domestic and export prices of Italian seamless pipes have declined by around €50/mt ($66/mt) over the past month on the back of slack demand from all customers. Prices of Chinese material have decreased by around €20-50/mt ($26-66/mt). Import offers of seamless pipes from Ukraine have decreased by €20-30/mt ($26-39/mt) over the past month, while offers of Romanian and Czech material have remained stable. Market players expect seamless pipe suppliers will keep their prices stable in the coming month as they wait for a clearer market situation.
According to market sources, demand for standard seamless pipes in Italy may begin to increase only in spring when large infrastructure projects will start in the European region. However, demand from oil and gas companies in the Middle East is expected to remain firm.
Current domestic prices for Italian seamless pipes of 8"-10" size as per ASTM are at about €1,100-1,150/mt ($1,441-1,507/mt) ex-works.
Export quotations of Italian seamless pipes of 6"-10" Sch 40 of grade B as per ASTM A106 are at around €1,100-1,150/mt ($1,441-1,507/mt) FCA or €1,130-1,180/mt ($1,480-1,546/mt) FOB for March production.
Prices for Chinese seamless pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM, are at about €700-850/mt ($917-1,114/mt) CFR Italy. Prices are exclusive of antidumping (AD) duties of 17.7-39.2 percent.
January production Ukrainian 2"-6" seamless pipes as per GOST or ASTM are offered to the Italian market at around €800-860/mt ($1,048-1,127/mt) CPT (12.3-13.8 percent AD duty not included).
Prices for Romanian origin seamless steel tubes (ArcelorMittal Roman) of 3"-10" grade B made to ASTM or as per EN are at about €1,020-1,050/mt ($1,336-1,376/mt) CPT.
Czech origin 3"-10" seamless steel tubes (ArcelorMittal Ostrava), as per ASTM, are quoted for Italian consumers at around €980-1,000/mt ($1,283-1,310/mt) CPT.
€1 = $1.31