It is estimated that in the first quarter of 2013, the production of steel pipe of European Union is about to decrease by 1%, compared with the same period of the previous year. The weak market has not shown much improvement since the financial crisis in 2008. The output of steel pipe is expected to decline by 1.5%-2% in 2013. However, with more purchasing activities of pipe-consumer and replenishment need of distributers, pipe output is supposed to incease by 2.5%.

So from this point, foreign markets possess more potential than domestis market.

In the first quarter of this year, German and France produced more steel pipe year on year, while pipe production decreased substancially in Spanish and Poland. At the same time, the main consumption aeras of steel pipe is expected to remain sluggish in the most time of 2013. Consequently, welded pipe of small and medium size would be affected by a shrink market in construction, automobile and metal. And due to the slower growth in cars and machines, the need for high precision tube will be limited. The authority thinks that several pipeline projects that are going to be started in the second half of 2013 to link Eastern Europe manufacteuring base with Western Europe and Central Europe, will promote the need for lagre diameter pipes.