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South Korea’s SeAH to supply steel pipe to UAE’s Adnoc

  • : Crude oil, Metals, Natural gas
  • 23/11/24

South Korean private-sector firm SeAH Steel has signed two large-scale contracts to supply steel pipe to Abu Dhabi's state-owned oil firm Adnoc, to accelerate its entry into the Middle East market.

SeAH Steel UAE will supply about 200,000t of steel pipes over five years to Adnoc for use in its oil and gas projects, but did not disclose further details. SeAH's Italian-based subsidiary Inox Tech will provide about 14,000t of clad steel pipes to Adnoc's Hail and Ghasha natural gas field project in the UAE from first-half 2024. "Production from the Ghasha concession is expected to start around 2025, ramping up to produce more than 1.5bn ft³/d of natural gas before the end of the decade," Adnoc said last year.

"Overseas production subsidiaries are recognised for their competitiveness as major suppliers in the energy steel pipe market, by signing large-scale orders in the Middle East market in succession," a SeAH Steel official said.

This development is in line with South Korea expanding its connections with the key energy-producing region, especially in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict. South Korea relies almost entirely on imports to meet its energy consumption, and having connections with Middle East energy projects can only help South Korea gain priority as an export destination.


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25/05/13

UK TRA proposes 40pc cap on other countries' HDG

UK TRA proposes 40pc cap on other countries' HDG

London, 13 May (Argus) — The UK Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has recommended the imposition of a 40pc cap on the other countries' quotas for hot-dip galvanised (HDG) and plate in its statement of final determination published today. It proposes that the caps come into effect on 1 October to enable material already on the water to clear and avoid supply restrictions. "This would address the concern about crowding out, whilst maintaining a similar volume of imports to come from existing supply countries," the TRA said. The other countries' quota for HDG is 88,075t for July-September, meaning anyone selling into it — the quota is dominated by Vietnam and South Korea — has access to 35,230t before duties become payable. The TRA said there should be no cap on organic coated material, despite requests to the contrary from UK Steel. Going forward, Turkey will not be in scope of the safeguard on HDG as its share during the investigation period was just 0.1pc. The TRA said unused quota should no longer be rolled forward to the next quota, and that countries with their own individual quota should have no access to the residual other countries' quota in the final quarter of the quota year, April-June. These two changes are largely in line with those made by the EU in its recent safeguard review. Vietnam will also come into the residual quota for hot-rolled coil, which is 24,295t/quarter, as its volumes have exceeded the 3pc limit specified by the WTO for developing economy status, reaching 4.3pc in the TRA's investigation period. Vietnam had been a favoured origin for traders and buyers, given its previous exemption from the measures. Egypt remains exempt and will likely be subject to increased interest going forward. Some large buyers have been visiting the country in recent months to establish supply lines. The TRA's recommendation "falls short of what is required, given the scale of the challenge the UK industry is faced with", UK Steel said. By Colin Richardson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Mexico industrial production contracts in March


25/05/13
25/05/13

Mexico industrial production contracts in March

Mexico City, 13 May (Argus) — Mexico's industrial production contracted by 0.9pc in March from the previous month, as declines in mining and manufacturing were only partly offset by continued growth in construction. The drop was not enough to undo the 2.2pc increase in February — the sharpest monthly expansion in four years — as manufacturers ramped up output ahead of incoming US tariffs. The March industrial production index (IMAI), published by statistics agency Inegi, was higher than Mexican bank Banorte's forecast of a 1.4pc decline. Banorte noted signs of volatility affecting manufacturing and other sectors because of a complex trade outlook. Manufacturing contracted 1.1pc in March after expanding 2.9pc in February. The impact varied across subsectors, with metal goods down 5.5pc and transportation, including auto production, down 1.1pc. Volatility may ease in the coming months as US tariff policies become clearer and Mexican officials push to preserve the country's trade edge under US-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) free trade agreement rules, Banorte said. Construction expanded 0.8pc in March, following increases of 3.4pc in February and 0.5pc in January, driven by higher public investment tied to President Claudia Sheinbaum's economic plan, "Plan Mexico." Analysts see the plan as a catalyst for continued growth in construction this year, with measures including greater domestic content in public purchases, public-private participation in infrastructure projects and a target of $100bn in private infrastructure investment for 2025. These effects could be amplified by aggressive interest rate cuts from the central bank. Mining contracted by 2.7pc in March, returning to negative territory after a slight 0.1pc uptick in February. Oil and gas output also contracted 2.7pc after rising 1.0pc the month before, while non-oil mining contracted 4.3pc in March after a 0.6pc increase in February. By James Young Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US inflation eases to 2.3pc in April


25/05/13
25/05/13

US inflation eases to 2.3pc in April

Houston, 13 May (Argus) — US inflation slowed in April, pulled lower by falling gasoline prices, while core inflation continued to show signs of mounting inflation pressures, as the new US administration's tariff policies have scrambled corporate and consumer investment and spending patterns. The consumer price index (CPI) slowed to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 2.3pc in April, down from 2.4pc in March and off from 2.8pc in February and the lowest rate since February 2021, the Labor Department reported Tuesday. Analysts surveyed by Trading Economics had forecast a 2.4pc rate for April. Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy, rose at an 2.8pc annual rate, unchanged from the prior month. The deceleration in inflation came a month after President Donald Trump began to levy tariffs on imports from China and on steel, aluminum and automobiles, starting in February. Several tariff deadlines were pushed back, including a three-month pause enacted this week on much steeper tariffs for most countries. The tariffs have prompted companies and consumers to pull back on investments and some purchases while shaking up financial markets, and heightening concerns of a global recession. The energy index fell by an annual 3.7pc in April, down from 3.3pc in March. Gasoline fell by 11.8pc after a 9.8pc decline. Piped natural gas rose by an annual 15.7pc following a 9.4pc gain. Food rose by an annual 2.8pc, slowing from 3pc. Eggs slowed to an annual 49.3pc after an annual 60.4pc, as avian flu has slashed supply. Shelter rose by an annual 4pc in March, matching the prior gain. Services less energy services rose by 3.6pc, slowing from 3.7pc in March. New vehicle prices edged up by an annual 0.3pc. CPI rose by a monthly 0.2pc in April after falling by 0.1pc in March. Core inflation rose by 0.2pc for the month following a 0.1pc gain in March. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Namibia expects first oil in 2029-30: Official


25/05/13
25/05/13

Namibia expects first oil in 2029-30: Official

Paris, 13 May (Argus) — Namibia expects first oil and gas from its offshore oil blocks as early as 2029, according to the country's petroleum commissioner Maggy Shino. Oil and gas production is on track to begin by that time, Shino said, with a first field development plan set to be received from TotalEnergies by July. The French major is a stakeholder in the Venus block, which it estimates to contain 750mn bl. The timeline announcement comes as Namibia seeks to accelerate the path to first oil, Shino said. Windhoek is streamlining licensing processes and is encouraging industry to contribute to upstream policymaking, she told the Invest in African Energies forum today. TotalEnergies, which discovered Venus in February 2022, plans to make a decision on whether to begin the development of the field next year. Its chief executive Patrick Pouyanne said he was negotiating with the Namibian government about the development but that discussions were still at an early stage. "It's a project which faces, fundamentally, some challenges, but it's feasible," Pouyanne told analysts on the company's first-quarter earnings call in April . Speaking at the conference, TotalEnergies' senior vice president for Africa, Mike Sangster, said the three wells the company has tested at Venus have demonstrated the need for a lot of gas reinjection, and he said it will be difficult to keep the cost of development down to Pouyanne's publicly-stated $20/bl. Besides upstream investment, Namibia is encouraging investors to consider port and pipeline infrastructure with a particular emphasis on the coastal town of Lüderitz in the southwest. Namibia's new president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, placed the country's oil and gas industries under direct presidential control the day after her inauguration in March. Although details of the restructuring have yet to emerge, some stakeholders hope the move will speed up decision making. By George Maher-Bonnett Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

ISTA blasts 'ludicrous' Tata Steel UK assertion to TRA


25/05/13
25/05/13

ISTA blasts 'ludicrous' Tata Steel UK assertion to TRA

London, 13 May (Argus) — Tata Steel UK's claim to the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) that 2m-wide hot-rolled coil (HRC) could be bought for slitting is "ludicrous", according to the International Steel Trade Association (ISTA). In a submission to the TRA as part of its safeguard review, Tata said that if 2m-wide material, which it does not produce, is removed from the safeguard, it would be bought and slit, meaning it is no different from the material produced by Tata . But ISTA said 2m-wide HRC is a "significant part" of the yellow goods market and is used by companies such as JCB, Caterpillar and Liebherr for earth-moving, construction and agricultural equipment. It is also used in pipe and tube production and does not constitute a small proportion of the overall market, as suggested by Tata, ISTA said. The material must be imported as it is not manufactured in the UK and carries a premium over speed-stock widths produced by Tata. "For Tata Steel, who import volumes of this width themselves, to suggest that wider coil is ‘often imported only to be slit to narrower cuts' is ludicrous," ISTA said, arguing that there are "almost no" slitting lines in the UK that are capable of slitting 2m-wide material. The lines that do exist typically slit hot-dip galvanised (HDG) rather than HRC, Argus understands. Importers have also questioned the economic rationale of Tata's assertion that if higher-yield HDG is removed from the safeguard, importers would buy it and use it to compete with more commoditised grades produced by Tata. Higher-yield material carries a premium, and it would make no economic sense to pay it and then compete in the commodity market, trading firms told Argus . The TRA, which is expected to announce its provisional findings this week, is widely anticipated to propose caps on the quota for other countries' HDG. Importers told Argus that they were surprised by the aggressive tone of Tata's rebuttal to claims fielded by importers about material that it does not produce being excluded from the safeguard. By Colin Richardson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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