Purchasing activity is still slow in the Spanish seamless pipe market, in spite of low stocks, due to slack demand from end-users. The economic recession and seasonal conditions continue to prevent any recovery of buying activity. However, domestic and export quotations of Spanish seamless pipes have mostly remained stable over the past month. Prices offered from China and Italy have increased by a minimum of €10/mt ($13/mt) over the past month, while quotations of Ukrainian material have declined by a maximum of €40/mt ($53/mt) under pressure from poor demand.
Market participants expect quotations of seamless pipes in Spain may decline in the coming period in view of the very low levels of demand and the significant drop in raw material prices in Europe.
Current Spanish domestic prices for 2"-4" hot-formed seamless pipes, grade B made to ASTM A106, are at around €1,000-1,020/mt ($1,330-1,357/mt) ex-works, while 6"-10" pipes are at €1,050-1,100/mt ($1,397-1,463/mt) ex-works.
Current export prices of Spanish seamless pipes, 2"-4" grade B according to ASTM A106, are varying at around €1,030-1,050/mt ($1,370-1,397/mt) FOB, while 6"-10" seamless pipes are at €1,080-1,130/mt ($1,436-1,503/mt) FOB.
Prices for Chinese seamless pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L, are at about €730-860/mt ($971-1,144/mt) CFR Spain, exclusive of antidumping duties (in the range of 17.7-39.2 percent depending on the producer).
Offers of February-March production Ukrainian seamless pipes with 42-168 mm diameter of 10, 20 steel grade made to GOST 8731/8732 are being given to Spain at €780-820/mt ($1,037-1,091/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 €1,130-1,180/mt ($1,503-1,569/mt) CPT.
€1 = $1.33