Weak buying activity in the export markets continues to put pressure on Ukrainian and Russian seamless pipe producers, causing them to cut their export quotations again. Prices for seamless pipes from Ukraine have decreased by $40-50/mt over the past month. Export prices for seamless pipes from Russia's ChTPZ Group have declined by a maximum of $10/mt over the past month, while export offers of TMK's seamless pipes have stayed in the previous range. The prospects are not great for a near-term recovery of the international market and the majority of producers are not expecting any great volume of sales in August due to the summer holidays in Europe and the hot season in Middle Eastern countries. Accordingly, sluggishness in demand from foreign consumers will make it more difficult for ex-CIS seamless pipe export quotations to increase.
Export prices from Ukrainian producers for 2"-6" seamless pipes of grade B made to ASTM A106 are quoted at around $730-780/mt FOB for the Middle Eastern market, while pipes as per EN are offered at about $700-740/mt ex-works for the European market.
ChTPZ Group's export quotations for hot-formed pipes with diameter of 48.3-114.3 mm made to GOST 8731/8732 from 10, 20 steel grades or as per ASTM A106 are at $740-760/mt FOB.
Seamless pipes with 114-219 mm diameter as per GOST from Tagmet (TMK Group) are quoted in the range of $740-760/mt FOB.
Seamless pipes with 89-219 mm diameter of steel grade 10, 20 as per GOST from Volzhsky pipe plant (TMK Group) are quoted in the range of $700-740/mt FOB.