Demand for seamless pipes remains sluggish in Iran. Foreign suppliers have maintained prices at December levels, while Iranian sellers have cut their offers by $45-65/mt over the past month. However, foreign suppliers are not active in the Iranian market because of the Christmas and New Year holidays and may come back to the market with higher prices. Iranian suppliers may also raise their quotations amid the further weakening of the Iranian rial against the US dollar. However, the market is still facing financial problems which restrict steel demand in the country.
Local stockists' prices for domestic production seamless pipes of ¾"-3" size are at about $1,375-1,890/mt ex-warehouse, compared with $1,420-1,955/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 $950-1,050/mt CFR Bandar Abbas.
Quotations of Ukrainian seamless pipes of 2"-12" size grade B as per ASTM A106 are at about $1,100-1,150/mt CFR Bandar Abbas for January-February production.
Russian pipes of 2"-8" grade B as per ASTM A106 are being offered to northern Iranian ports at $1,050-1,150/mt CFR Anzali.
Iranian stockists' domestic prices for locally produced seamless pipes:
($/mt, ex-warehouse)
Diameter Price Change*
¾" 1,715 -55
½" 1,700 -55
1" 1,890 -65
2 ½" 1,390 -45
3" 1,375 -45
*over the past four weeks