THE LINE PIPE MARKET

摘要

So far this year, the gain in shipmentsover last year is virtually all attributable to largediameter – pipe in excess of 16” diameter.Annualizing the shipment levels throughAugust – which includes licenses for August -indicates 4.8 million tons of line pipe whichrepresents an increase of over half a milliontons from last year’s level. Interestingly, whiledomestic producers have gained significantshare in the large diameter segment, thereverse has occurred in small diameterproducts. In large OD, domestic producershave a 65% share which is up from a 56%share in 2018. In the small diameter sector,domestic share this year has fallen to 32%from about 41% last year. This is not really anapples to apples comparison. In the largediameter sector, project orders are ofsignificant quantity which may take a year torun while small diameter orders, on average,are more directed to inventory. This would result in the steel section 232 having a greaterimpact on large diameter than on small.