August 2011 | Welded steel tube & pipe
Chinese export prices slip on seasonal demand lull: Asia Market Analysis
Exporters are looking to lower prices in order to remain competitive but are facing shrinking margins.
Between the financial and debt troubles in the USA and EU as well as the seasonal demand slump made more pronounced by the observance of the Ramadan holiday, Asian tube and pipe exporters are anxiously awaiting the end of August. Downstream tube and pipe demand has been slower than expected, but raw materials and substrate prices have not stepped back as much as usual. So, exporters are looking to lower prices in order to remain competitive but are facing shrinking margins. Nevertheless, exporters in the region dropped their prices this month in the hopes of generating sales.
Chinese welded pipe export price offers are down about $10/tonne on July prices, but we understand steep discounting is being employed as well. Offers are now at around $775-890/tonne FOB for ERW API grade B linepipe of 219 mm OD, 2-8 mm wall thickness, down from$785-900 last month. We are also hearing that...
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