China’s production of welded steel pipes fall in Jan-Feb

According to statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics, China’s output of welded steel pipes totaled 6.31 million tonnes in the January to February period, decreasing by 12.6%.

Meanwhile, the country’s daily welded steel pipes output averaged at 106,949 tonnes in the given period of time, lower than 124,355 tonnes in last December, due to slow demand in winter and Chinese Lunar New Year holiday in early February.

In addition, China’s exports of welded steel pipes amounted to 554,901 tonnes in the first two months of this year, down by 4%.

Turkey’s steel pipes exports Increase 3pct in Jan-Mar

According to the statistics provided by the Turkish Steel Pipes Manufacturers Association, in the first three months of the current year, Turkey’s steel pipe exports increased by 2.52% YoY to 472,894 tonnes. The value of these export totaled USD 403.81 million, decreasing by 1.60% YoY.

In the first three months this year, the largest export markets for Turkish steel pipes were Iraq, the UK and the US. In the given period, steel pipe exports to Iraq decreased by 0.25% to 98,744 MT while exports to the UK increased by 98.62% to 78,002 MT and exports to the US decreased by 11.42% to 68,772 MT all YoY.

In the given period, due to the more positive economic atmosphere in the EU, Turkish steel pipe exports to EU countries recorded increases, rising to 208,000 tonnes equivalent to a 45%share of total steel pipe exports in the period.

On the other hand, in March this year, Turkey’s steel pipes exports decreased by 4% YoY and were up 36.93% MoM amounting to 175,661 MT. The value of these exports was USD 149.56 million down 4.02% YoY and up 37.93% MoM.

Mr Mehmet Zeren secretary general of CEBID said that “In the Q1 of this year, Turkey recorded a 2.52% of increase in steel pipe exports compared with the same period of 2013 with no increases in steel pipe imports. If this situation continues, this year we expect our sector to offset the four percent decline in steel exports which was recorded in 2013.”

Source – www.steelorbis.com.  http://www.steelguru.com