Italy's only seamless pipemaker Tenaris has announced details of its production schedule for the summer break in August and later. Tenaris Dalmine will not completely halt production but will work at reduced levels - from August up to November 22. Before the summer holidays, Tenaris has reduced domestic and export prices of seamless pipes by €85-130/mt compared to the level of one month ago. Market players expect that the sales volume will decrease in the third quarter of 2009 because of weak demand allied to the economic slump and seasonal effects.
The encouraging news for Tenaris Dalmine is that the European Union is to impose a definitive antidumping duty of 17.7-39.2 percent on Chinese seamless pipes, compared to the previous range of 15-24.2 percent. The antidumping measures will enter into effect from October 9. "This is positive news for Tenaris because now the company can take back the 17 percent share of the European market that Chinese companies have illegally gained in recent years," a Tenaris official said. Thanks to the application of these compensatory measures, Tenaris' plants will have access to a greater volume of orders when demand recovers. For now market producers will look to prolong seasonal summer stoppages in the third quarter this year because of the economic slowdown. European seamless pipe mills are unlikely to get much of an opportunity to raise their prices in the near future.
Domestic distributors' sales prices for July production seamless pipes grade B as per ASTM A106/API 5L ex-local producer Tenaris have decreased to a range of €1,030-1,570/mt, depending on size. Thus, prices for 2"-4" pipes are at €1,160-1,190/mt ex-works, prices for 6" pipes are at €1,030-1,055/mt ex-works, while prices for ½" pipes are at €1,535-1,570/mt ex-works.
Export quotations from distributors of Italian seamless pipes of 2"-4" size grade B as per ASTM A106/API 5L are at €1,195-1,225/mt FOB, while quotations for 6" size are at €1,060-1,090/mt FOB, with quotations for ½" size at €1,580-1,620/mt FOB.
Offers of Chinese 16"-20" seamless pipes grade B as per ASTM A106/API 5L are being given to the Italian market at €650/mt C&F for August production material.
Offer prices ex-Ukraine from Duferco partner Dnepropetrovsk Tube Plant of 3" seamless pipes as per EN 10255 (July-August production, September delivery) are at around €620-625/mt DDU (12.3 percent AD duty not included).
August-September production Ukrainian 2"-6" seamless pipes ex-Interpipe grade B as per ASTM A106 are offered to the Italian market at around €630-660/mt DDU (25.1 percent AD duty not included), while offers for 8"-12" seamless pipes are at €690-700/mt DDU.
Offers of August production Indian seamless boiler pipes up to 10" size grade B/X42 as per API 5L are at €1,000/mt C&F.