The UAE welded pipe market is still characterized by weakness amid slower construction activity during Ramadan and the summer season. Emirati producers have cut their welded pipe offers by $5-10/mt over the past month. However, import quotations of Chinese material have moved up by $10-20/mt over the same period on the back of higher prices for raw materials. Taking into account increased feedstock prices and the expected upturn in buying after Ramadan, welded pipe prices in the UAE may start to climb up in the coming period.
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 $720-750/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 $735-780/mt ex-works. Current domestic prices of 1"-4" galvanized ERW pipes with 2-4 mm wall thickness are in the range of $910-930/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 $700-730/mt CFR, compared to $680-720/mt one month ago.
Indian suppliers are offering ERW pipes, 1"-6" as per BS 1387 (light series), to the UAE at $710-740/mt CFR on actual weight basis, compared to $710-750/mt CFR one month ago.