Price trend

According to data from SunSirs, the price of seamless tubes slightly decreased in April. At the beginning of the month, the price of 108 * 4.5 seamless tubes was 4,132.5 RMB/ton, and at the end of the month it fell to 4,077.5 RMB/ton, a decrease of 1.33% and a year-on-year decrease of 11.93%.

Analysis review

In terms of raw materials, the second round of coke price increase has been temporarily opposed by steel mills and has not yet been implemented.

Supply side: As of the end of the month, the inventory of seamless tube factories was 615,500 tons, a decrease of 39,000 tons from the beginning of the month. At the end of the month, the operating rate of seamless tube factories nationwide was 63.45%, a decrease of 0.87% compared to last week.

In terms of demand: The overall demand has not reached the peak season level, and the short-term upward trend of seamless tube prices is hindered. The market needs to be verified after the May Day holiday.

In terms of exports, China's seamless tube exports in March were 549,100 tons, a month on month increase of 44.60% and a year-on-year increase of 25.57%; From January to March, China exported a total of 1.4151 million tons of seamless tubes, a year-on-year increase of 15.02%. In March, China imported 8,600 tons of seamless tubes, a month on month increase of 0.13% and a year-on-year decrease of 39.18%; From January to March, China imported a total of 24,000 tons of seamless tubes, a year-on-year decrease of 16.67%.

News: There were rumors in the market about a production limit of 50 million RMB for crude steel.

Market outlook

In summary, as the May Day holiday approaching, there has been no significant change in demand, and there is a lack of momentum for seamless tube price increases. In terms of cost, the second round of coke price increase has been temporarily opposed by steel mills and has not yet been implemented. Moreover, if downstream demand does not significantly recover, the cautious sentiment of traders may further suppress trading volume. But there are rumors of production restrictions in the market, which may provide some support for seamless tubes. Overall, it is expected that seamless tubes will operate steadily in the short term.

If you have any enquiries or purchasing needs, please feel free to contact SunSirs with support@sunsirs.com.