According to Derzhzovnishinform, the Ukrainian national research and information center for monitoring international commodity markets (DZI), Ukrainian export prices of steel pipes will rise by 8-10% up to the end of the Q2 of the current year while domestic steel pipe quotations will increase by not more than 5-6% in the same period.
Ukrainian steel pipe prices are expected to be pushed up by projected increases in round billet prices and the high seasonal demand for steel pipes in April to June.
Current Ukrainian export prices of 57-325 mm seamless pipes of steel grade 10, 20 made to GOST 8732 are at the level of $1,000-1,200 per ton FOB, while export quotations of 15-114 mm welded pipes as per GOST 3262 are at $800-820 per ton FOB.
For Q3 of the current year DZI predicts a stabilization of steel pipe prices in Ukraine’s domestic and export markets. DZI also predicts YoY increase of 15% to 21% in Ukrainian steel pipe production to 2.0-2.1 million tons in 2011. (SteelOrbis)