Purchasing activity is still quite modest in the UAE seamless pipe market. However, market players expect the situation to improve in the spring thanks to new projects, including rig construction, oil exploration and refining. Accordingly, most foreign suppliers have already started to raise their offers of seamless pipes for the UAE. Only Chinese suppliers have cut their seamless pipe prices for the UAE in the past month, by $70-80/mt. In the same period, offers of Ukrainian pipes have moved up by $50/mt, while seamless pipe prices from Romania have also increased by $50/mt. Quotations of Italian seamless pipes have increased by $50-70/mt, while offers of Japanese pipes have moved up by $130-150/mt over the period under review. Although seamless pipe consumers in the UAE are still reluctant to accept higher prices, foreign suppliers believe the higher prices should gain acceptance soon as a large number of new projects in the region should boost local seamless pipe consumption.
Offers of Chinese seamless pipes of 2"-12" grade B made to ASTM/API are being given to the local UAE market at $870-930/mt CFR.
Quotations of Ukrainian (Interpipe) seamless pipes, 2"-12" grade B made to ASTM/API, are at $1,150-1,200/mt CFR.
Seamless pipes from Romania (ArcelorMittal) of 10"-14" grade B made to ASTM/API are quoted at about $1,400-1,450/mt CFR Dubai, while offers of 2"-8" pipes are being given at $1,325-1,360/mt CFR.
South African (ArcelorMittal) seamless pipes, 2"-6" grade B made to ASTM/API, are being quoted to the UAE in the range of $1,375-1,400/mt CFR.
Offers of seamless pipes from Argentina, 12"-14" grade B made to ASTM/API from Tenaris, are being made to the UAE at $1,830-1,870/mt CFR.
Offers of seamless pipes from Italy, 6"-8" grade B made to ASTM from Tenaris Dalmine, are being given to the UAE at $1,830-1,950/mt CFR.
Quotations of seamless pipes from France and Germany (V&M) and from Japan (Sumitomo) for 2"-10" grade B made to ASTM/API are at about $1,750-1,780/mt CFR.