Chinese welded pipe market inactive
2024-04-19 08:34:23 [Print]
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 19 Apr 24 - Though some traders lift prices tentatively boosted by the prices rebound of raw materials this week, end users keep cautious about purchasing, and the domestic welded pipe market runs slowly at the moment. Presently, the mainstream prices of welded pipe Q235 Ф114*3.75mm stand at RMB3,800-3,850/t (USD525-532/t) and RMB4,000-4,050/t (USD553-560/t) D/P respectively in warehouses Tianjin and Chengdu, with the former up by RMB20/t (USD3/t) and the latter flat compared with Monday. Insiders foresee narrowly stable prices of welded pipe in the forthcoming several days seeing the rising prices of raw materials but the dim market.
"After the short-term active purchase last week, end users tend to hold back from purchasing this week. We tried to contact several regular clients on Thursday, and they either refused to place orders or purchased in small quantities. Finally, we just sold 100t of welded pipe Q235 Ф114*3.75mm at RMB3,800/t (USD525/t), while sold 200-300t a day easily last week," noted a trader in Tianjin. According to him, the demand from downstream industries remains soft, amid the low operating rates of downstream plants. Besides, end users keep inactive in purchasing facing the quick prices rise of raw materials. The trader believes prices of welded pipe might keep flat in the forthcoming several days.
Holding around 2,000t in stock, the trader might sell 4,000t of welded pipe in April, up from 3,000t in March. With the regular monthly sales volume of 6,000t, he recorded the sales volume of around 7,000t in the first quarter of 2024 and 46,000t in 2023.
"We found it hard to conclude large deals as end users prefer to separate purchasing volumes to avoid potential risks," complained a trader in Chengdu, Sichuan. According to him, most regular clients report insufficient orders for final products, and thus keep cautious about purchasing welded pipe. "Though prices of major steel products rebounded obviously in recent two weeks, we fail to raise those of welded pipe dragged by the slow market," added the trader, who sold 200t of welded pipe Q235 Ф114*3.75mm at RMB4,000/t (USD553/t) on Thursday, while sold 500t a day in early January. Adopting pessimistic attitude towards the market prospect, he endeavors to cut stocks since the middle of February, and holds around 70% of the regular inventories for the moment. He predicts stable prices of welded pipe in the forthcoming several days upon the slow market but the increasing prices of raw materials.
Presently, the trader holds around 3,000t in stock. With the regular monthly sales volume of 10,000t, he estimates to sell 6,000t in April, against 5,000t in March. The trader recorded the sales volume of around 13,000t in the first three months of 2024.
"After the short-term active purchase last week, end users tend to hold back from purchasing this week. We tried to contact several regular clients on Thursday, and they either refused to place orders or purchased in small quantities. Finally, we just sold 100t of welded pipe Q235 Ф114*3.75mm at RMB3,800/t (USD525/t), while sold 200-300t a day easily last week," noted a trader in Tianjin. According to him, the demand from downstream industries remains soft, amid the low operating rates of downstream plants. Besides, end users keep inactive in purchasing facing the quick prices rise of raw materials. The trader believes prices of welded pipe might keep flat in the forthcoming several days.
Holding around 2,000t in stock, the trader might sell 4,000t of welded pipe in April, up from 3,000t in March. With the regular monthly sales volume of 6,000t, he recorded the sales volume of around 7,000t in the first quarter of 2024 and 46,000t in 2023.
"We found it hard to conclude large deals as end users prefer to separate purchasing volumes to avoid potential risks," complained a trader in Chengdu, Sichuan. According to him, most regular clients report insufficient orders for final products, and thus keep cautious about purchasing welded pipe. "Though prices of major steel products rebounded obviously in recent two weeks, we fail to raise those of welded pipe dragged by the slow market," added the trader, who sold 200t of welded pipe Q235 Ф114*3.75mm at RMB4,000/t (USD553/t) on Thursday, while sold 500t a day in early January. Adopting pessimistic attitude towards the market prospect, he endeavors to cut stocks since the middle of February, and holds around 70% of the regular inventories for the moment. He predicts stable prices of welded pipe in the forthcoming several days upon the slow market but the increasing prices of raw materials.
Presently, the trader holds around 3,000t in stock. With the regular monthly sales volume of 10,000t, he estimates to sell 6,000t in April, against 5,000t in March. The trader recorded the sales volume of around 13,000t in the first three months of 2024.
