According to Kallanish, divergent trends emerged across regional pipe markets in April: in the United States, oil and gas OCTG pipe quotations rose significantly, while in Turkey, prices for welded pipes in the construction segment effectively stabilized. This dynamic reflects differences in demand structure, the impact of raw material factors, and the current balance of inventories. For market participants, this is a vital indicator that tubular products are increasingly reacting not only to the general state of the steel industry but to the specific requirements of end-use applications.
Dynamics in OCTG and Welded Pipe Segments
The average price of OCTG pipes on North America FOB terms rose by $220 per tonne in April, reaching $2,274/t. The market reacted with a delay to rising oil prices, as traders spent over a month assessing this factor as temporary. Only after WTI volatility persisted, with an average April price near $100.3 per barrel, did suppliers begin revising quotations upward.
Despite the price increase, drilling activity indicators in the US have not yet shown a sharp expansion in the investment cycle. According to Baker Hughes data, at the end of April, the number of oil and gas rigs in the US stood at 547 units—only four more than the previous month, but 37 fewer year-on-year. This suggests operator caution, although the volume of drilled but uncompleted wells leaves room for a rapid surge in pipe demand.
The situation in Turkey is different. By the end of April, welded pipes on Turkey FOB terms increased by only $3 per tonne to $658/t, following a $60 jump in March. Weakening demand forced some manufacturers to lower offers to $640/t FOB, though the rise of hot-rolled coil (HRC) quotes to $630/t maintains the prerequisites for further price revisions.
Impact on the Steel Market and winox.ua Solutions
For the global metal market, this divergence in price dynamics signifies increased segmentation: energy pipes are becoming more dependent on oil market conditions, while construction tubular products rely on real consumption and the cost of flat steel. This is crucial for international companies involved in import, processing, or export planning. Given the uneven movement of quotes, procurement strategies must rely on specific product types and end-use industries rather than general market expectations.
For businesses procuring steel and pipe products for manufacturing or construction projects, supply stability and price predictability are paramount. This is why winox.ua, as a supplier of steel products and industrial solutions, helps clients manage market volatility through reliable supply planning, up-to-date price benchmarks, and product selection tailored to specific technical tasks. During periods when individual market segments rise rapidly, such a supply model allows for reduced risks in production and procurement.
External trade is an additional factor. US OCTG pipe imports rose by 24.8% month-on-month in February to 116,000 tonnes, with South Korea being the largest supplier at 54,000 tonnes. Meanwhile, US OCTG exports decreased by 13.2% to 12,000 tonnes, confirming a more complex competitive situation even amid domestic price hikes.
What This Means for Industrial Procurement
The current landscape demonstrates that the pipe market no longer moves as a single entity. In the US, the primary price driver remains the energy sector and drilling expectations, whereas in Turkey, the key factors are construction demand rates and the cost of flat-rolled steel. For procurement officers, this necessitates separate monitoring of each segment rather than focusing solely on general steel trends.
If high oil prices persist, the OCTG segment may maintain its upward trend in the near term. In Turkey, the further movement of welded pipe prices will depend on whether the market can absorb higher offers amidst currently restrained demand. For manufacturers and traders, this environment creates not only risks but also new opportunities to review export strategies and contract terms.