TPT November 2014

Global Marketplace

Permanent tariffs on OCTG from South Korea hand US steelmakers a victory, but domestic oil and gas companies’ costs will rise “With the rest of the world awash in mostly unprofitable steel, the US has become a jewel for foreign steelmakers. Imports of oil country tubular goods rose 22 per cent during the first half of 2014 to 1.8 million tons from 1.4 million tons over the same period in 2013.” John W Miller of the Wall Street Journal was reporting a midsummer ruling by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) which marked a major political and economic victory for American steelmakers, notably US Steel Corp (Pittsburgh). The ITC made permanent the imposition of tariffs on imports of steel pipe and tube from South Korea and five other countries: India, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam. (“Trade Commission Confirms Tariffs on Steel From South Korea,” 22 August) As noted by Mr Miller, the tariffs – of up to 15.75 per cent for South Korean companies – are a boon to US steel producers eager to protect their business of selling pipe and tube to domestic oil and gas drillers, which represents one of the world’s most lucrative steel markets. US Steel stock shot up 2.5 per cent on the news.

wrote Mr Dunlap. “The timeline has stretched. Contractors have been suspected of and have admitted to fraud.” But the $3.2bn project is moving forward and, at a cost of $1mn for both, the ten-ton manganese bronze valves are being replaced with 6,700-pound stainless steel valves newly fabricated by the Italian company Vanessa in Lugagnano Val d’Arda, roughly midway between Milan and Bologna. Their installation will complete the final links in a network of pipes through which as much as 290 million gallons per day of filtered Croton water is to resume flowing to Manhattan and the Bronx. James J Roberts, the deputy commissioner for water and sewer operations at the city’s environmental agency, told the Times that the filtration plant is scheduled to be finished next year. › Where the 1914 valves were custom-made, the Vanessa valves are virtually off-the-shelf, Mr Dunlap reported. That means a much shorter delivery time and lower cost, at no sacrifice in performance over an expected service life of at least 40 to 50 years. The manganese bronze valves could take years to replicate and cost $1mn apiece. Obviously a belt-and-braces man, Mr Roberts will see to it that the fully functional antique fixtures are warehoused. “This valve’s pedigree and the shape it’s in after a century of performance speaks for itself,” he said, pointing to one of the matched pair. “If we needed it in an emergency, I’d be comfortable installing it.”

Established in 1994, Shanghai Yueyuechao Steel Pipe Group has now been developed into a comprehensive enterprise which is specialized in carbon steel, low-alloy seamless and welded tubes and pipes manufacturing and exporting. Our production range: Seamless tubes: 1/8"~28" in OD, 1.5~50mm in WT. LSAW pipes: 14"~56" in OD, 8~50mm in WT. 3-rolling bending plate welded pipes: 40"~158" in OD, 15.9~140mm in WT.

Gas cylinder pipe: 62~711mm in OD, 2.3~18mm in WT. Our main certs: API/ISO/BV/DNV/ABS/LR/TUV/GL/

TEL: +86-21-31108050 FAX: +86-21-31108052 E-MAIL: red@yyc88.cn

WEBSITE: http://www.yyc88.com HEAD OFFICE ADD: 10–11th Floor, No.11 Building, No.1588, Youyi Rd., Baoshan District, Shanghai, China

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N ovember 2014