The Spanish market for seamless pipes gradually resumed its usual activity in early September. Local mills have been forced to raise quotations of seamless pipes amid higher prices for raw materials, although demand has not fully recovered. Spanish producers of seamless pipes have lifted their domestic prices by €40-50/mt over the past month. Import prices for Chinese seamless pipes have moved up by €90-100/mt, while offers of Italian material have gone up by €50-60/mt over the period under review. Ukrainian suppliers have lifted their seamless pipe offers by €10-40/mt over the same period. The Spanish seamless pipe manufacturer Tubos Reunidos is going to work at full capacity during the coming months due to the increasing volume of orders. The outlook for the remainder of 2010 remains positive. Steady demand in the key markets together with rising steel prices will at least keep seamless pipe prices steady in the coming period.
Current domestic prices for 2"-6" hot-formed seamless pipes grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are at around €970-1000/mt ex-works.
Prices for Chinese seamless pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L, are at about €800-930/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"-14" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L, are at €820-870/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 €1,030-1,060/mt CPT.