Although the end-of-Ramadan holiday is over, demand for welded pipes remains thin in Iran due to political and economic tensions. Iranian producers have cut their domestic offers of welded pipes by around $20-30/mt over the past month under pressure from slack buying activity, the decline in flat steel prices and lower import offers especially from China. However, market players expect to see improved business activity in the coming month, and suppliers do not plan to cut their prices further.
Iranian producers' current domestic prices for 6"-8" welded pipes with 2 mm wall thickness of grade B made to ASTM/API are at $850-880/mt ex-works, while quotations of 12"-14" pipes are at about $1,050-1,080/mt ex-works. Prices are exclusive of four percent VAT.
Local stockists' prices for welded pipes of ¾"-3" size from Iranian producers are currently varying at around $980-1,050/mt ex-warehouse, compared to $1,020-1,080/mt ex-warehouse one month ago.
Chinese welded pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM A53/API 5L, are currently being offered to the Iranian market at $700-760/mt CFR, compared to $780-800/mt CFR one month ago.
Iranian stockists' prices for local production welded pipes:
($/mt, ex-warehouse, cash payment)
Diameter (inches) | Price ($/mt) | Change* |
0.75 | 1,050 | -30 |
1 | 1,000 | -50 |
1.25 | 1,000 | -50 |
1.5 | 1,000 | -50 |
2 | 1,020 | -45 |
2.5 | 1,000 | -30 |
3 | 980 | -40 |
* over the past month | ||