Buying activity in the Spanish market for seamless pipes remains rather weak amid the difficult financial and economic situation in the country, which has hit investments in domestic infrastructure projects. However, domestic and export quotations of Spanish seamless pipes have remained at the previous levels, while buyers are postponing new purchases. Market insiders report sustained demand from the oil and gas market; however, demand from the industrial, automotive and power generation sectors remains weak. Meanwhile, prices offered from China have increased by a maximum of €10/mt over the past month, while quotations of Ukrainian material have gone up by €40-50/mt. At the same time, import prices for Italian seamless pipes have not changed. Spanish market players believe weak buying activity abroad and at home will continue to pull seamless pipe sales down, and any upward movements in prices appear unlikely within the next few months.
Current Spanish domestic prices for 2"-4" hot-formed seamless pipes, grade B made to ASTM A106, are at around €1,200-1,220/mt ($1,537-1,563/mt) ex-works, while 6"-10" pipes are at €1,240-1,350/mt ($1,588-1,730/mt) ex-works.
Current export prices of Spanish seamless pipes, 2"-4" grade B according to ASTM A53, are varying at around €1,230-1,250/mt ($1,576-1,601/mt) FOB, while 6"-10" seamless pipes are at €1,280-1,390/mt ($1,640-1,780/mt) FOB.
Prices for Chinese seamless pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L, are at about €800-890/mt ($1,025-1,140/mt) CFR Spain, exclusive of antidumping duties (in the range of 17.7-39.2 percent depending on the producer).
Offers of May-June production Ukrainian seamless pipes with 42-168 mm diameter of 10, 20 steel grade made to GOST 8731/8732 from Interpipe are being given to Spain at €920-950/mt ($1,179-1,217/mt) CPT. Prices are shown exclusive of 25.1 percent antidumping duty.
Quotations of Italian seamless pipes, 6"-10" grade B made to ASTM A106, to Spain are at €1,310-1,430/mt ($1,678-1,832/mt) CPT.
€1 = $ 1.281