April 2011 | Welded steel tube & pipe
Regional hollow sections pricing range widens: Asia Market Analysis
In Japan the decline in tubular demand from the automotive and engineering sectors where operations are running below expected production levels is for now offsetting any increase in demand from reconstruction efforts.
While integrated Japanese and South Korean mills have raised HR coil prices on account of higher iron ore and coal prices, spot prices for HR coil out of China and to a lesser extent from regional EAF mills have moved lower over the last month on the back of lower spot raw material prices and weak purchasing. Chinese HR coil exports are in the region of $700/tonne fob, while CIS material can be landed for less than $730/tonne c&f. South Korean and Taiwanese prices on the other hand are closer to $780/tonne fob, but vulnerable to discounting, while Japanese prices remain in excess of $800/tonne fob. This is leading to a widening range of regional hollow section and standard ERW pipe offers from as low as $825/tonne fob to as much as $950/tonne fob. However, the general trend is down in commodity grades as Indian and SE Asian suppliers have...
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