The situation in the Spanish seamless pipe market has not improved over the past month. Domestic buying remains thin amid poor demand from consuming industries, while the business activity of foreign buyers is minimal due to seasonal factors and the global downward trend. Domestic and export quotations of Spanish seamless pipes have remained at previous levels, though in some cases decreases of €20/mt ($26/mt) have been seen. However, due to the weakening of the dollar against the euro, domestic and export quotations in US dollar terms have climbed up by $47-50/mt over the past month.
Prices offered from China have decreased by €60/mt ($79/mt) over the past month, while quotations of Ukrainian material have declined by a maximum of €20/mt (but on dollar basis increased by $12-37/mt). Import offers of Italian seamless pipes have moved down by a maximum of €10/mt ($13/mt) (up $42/mt) over the period under review. Market players' forecasts for the summer are pessimistic in general, and so the weak price trend in the seamless pipe segment is likely to continue in the short term.
Current Spanish domestic prices for 2"-4" hot-formed seamless pipes, grade B made to ASTM A106, are at around €970-1,000/mt ($1,280-1,320/mt) ex-works, while 6"-10" pipes are at €1,020-1,050/mt ($1,346-1,386/mt) ex-works.
Current export prices of Spanish seamless pipes, 2"-4" grade B according to ASTM A106, are varying at around €1,000-1,030/mt ($1,320-1,360/mt) FOB, while 6"-10" seamless pipes are at €1,050-1,080/mt ($1,386-1,426/mt) FOB.
Prices for Chinese seamless pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L, are at about €640-690/mt ($845-911/mt) CFR Spain, exclusive of antidumping duties (in the range of 17.7-39.2 percent depending on the producer).
Offers of July production Ukrainian seamless pipes with 42-168 mm diameter of 10, 20 steel grade made to GOST or EN are being given to Spain at €760-780/mt ($1,003-1,030/mt) CPT. Prices are shown exclusive of 12.3-13.8 percent antidumping duty.
Quotations of Italian seamless pipes, 8"-10" grade B made to ASTM A106, to Spain are at €1,080-1,120/mt ($1,426-1,478/mt) CPT.
€1 = $1.32