Buying activity in the welded pipe market in the UAE remains slow amid the current winter season. Local producers of welded pipes have maintained their domestic prices at the level of one month ago as demand is too low to support any price increase, though raw material offers are on an upward trend. Chinese suppliers have not revised their offers due to the Spring Festival holiday. The market situation in the UAE may improve by the end of winter under the influence of seasonal factors and low stocks. Higher demand and rising production costs may push welded pipe producers in the UAE to increase their prices.
UAE domestic prices for locally produced ½"-4" welded pipes with 2-4 mm wall thickness of grade B made to ASTM A53 or BS 1387 are at about $800-840/mt ex-works. Prices are given on theoretical weight basis.
Domestic quotations of ½"-4" welded pipes with 1.5-1.8 mm wall thickness of grade B made to ASTM or BS 1387 are at about $830-890/mt ex-works. Current domestic prices of 1"-4" galvanized ERW pipes with 2-4 mm wall thickness are in the range of $950-1,000/mt ex-works.
Offers of Chinese ERW pipes up to 10" grade B as per ASTM are being given to the UAE market at about $800-850/mt CFR.
Indian suppliers are offering ERW pipes, 1"-6" as per BS 1387 (light series), to the UAE at $850-880/mt CFR, $20/mt higher than one month ago.