The Spanish market for seamless pipes has not improved over the past month, but rather has remained weak as the summer construction season has faded. Buyers are reluctant to make big purchases in anticipation of further price declines from foreign suppliers. Spanish producers of seamless pipes have reduced their domestic prices by €20-40/mt over the past month. Import prices for Chinese seamless pipes have moved down by €50/mt, while offers of Italian material have gone down by €30-50/mt over the period under review. Ukrainian suppliers have lowered their seamless pipe offers by €20-30/mt over the same period. Any rise in raw material price levels will place upward pressure on seamless pipe prices, though the current lackluster demand will mean that volumes will be limited due to cautious buying. It is probable that seamless pipe prices in Spain will start to rise in the first quarter of next year as demand improves and as some restocking takes place.
Current domestic prices for 2"-6" hot-formed seamless pipes grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are at around €900-950/mt ex-works.
Prices for Chinese seamless pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L, are at about €700-750/mt C&F, exclusive of antidumping duties (in the range of 17.7-39.2 percent depending on the producer).
Offers of Ukrainian seamless pipes, 2"-12" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L, are at €770-800/mt DDU. These prices are exclusive of 25.1 percent antidumping duty.
Quotations of Italian seamless pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L, to Spain are at €950-1,000/mt CPT.