Interpipe decreases steel output in January-May 2014

In January-May Interpipe Steel produced 376 thousand tons of steel, down by 24% YoY.

Ukrainian pipe output down in January-April 2014

In January-April major Ukrainian pipe companies produced 477 thousand tons of ferrous pipes, down by 16.1% YoY.

Ukraine decreases pipe output in Q1 2014

In January-March major pipe companies of Ukraine produced 337.1 thousand tons of ferrous metals pipes, down by 15.4% YoY.

Interpipe Niko Tube commissions new ring heating furnace

Ukrainian steel pipe and railway wheel producer Interpipe has announced that a new ring heating furnace has been commissioned at Interpipe Niko Tube to heat steel billets before rolling. The new furnace will enable high production capacity, energy efficiency, and reduction in metal consumption. The production capacity of the new furnace will be 325,000 tons of billets per year, 50% more than that of the old furnace.

Interpipe launches steel billet sales

Ukrainian steel pipe and railway wheel producer Interpipe has announced the launch of steel billet sales, produced by Interpipe Steel electric steel-melting complex. The steel billet mill, commissioned in 2012, produces round continuously cast billets for pipe and wheel steel grades with diameters ranging between 150 and 470 mm. 

Metinvest and Interpipe win UAH 33.77 million tender to supply Ukrtransgas

Ukraine-based Ukrtransgas, an affiliate of the Ukrainian national oil and gas company Naftogaz, has announced that Ukrainian mining and steel producing group Metinvest and Ukrainian steel pipe and railway wheel producer Interpipe have won a tender for the supply of steel pipes worth a total of UAH 33.776 million ($4.07 million).

Interpipe to organize production of ultra premium pipe for Shell

Ukrainian pipe group Interpipe plans to organize production of pipes with ultra premium thread connections meeting CAL IV standards for use in the most demanding oil and gas production projects.
Pipes will be delivered to Shell for use in its projects in Ukraine.
Interpipe said that during the discussion of specific measures pursuant to its memorandum of cooperation with Shell, it consented to Shell's purchase of pipe with ultra premium thread connections meeting CAL IV standards from Japan's Sumitomo, since Interpipe was not currently making that product.
However, under the terms of the memorandum, the need for the imports will disappear as soon as Interpipe starts up its own production.
Interpipe is currently developing its own CAL IV premium connections. In order to raise the efficiency of production of the premium connections, a project to create high-tech production of pipe with ultra premium connections based at Interpipe Niko Tube was drawn up. The project is included among measures in the state program for stepping up economic development in 2013-2014. (SteelGuru)

Interpipe appointed Mr. Fadi Hraibi as new CCO

Interpipe appointed Mr. Fadi Hraibi as the Commercial and Operating Officer (CCO). This new management position will enhance company's sales management efficiency.
Mr. Hraibi, who has already started at Interpipe, will be responsible for planning and management of company’s commercial activities, development and implementation of marketing strategy and sales channels development.
Mr. Alexander Kirichko, GM of Interpipe, said that “The introduction of the new Commercial and Operating Officer position is the result of Interpipe's management system restructure. Providing staff with highly skilled and experienced managers will develop people and ensure a premium efficiency and balance of Company’s operational management”. (SteelGuru)

Interpipe Steel melts its 1 million ton of steel

Ukrainian steel pipe and wheel producer Interpipe announced that on June 6th the 1 millionth metric ton of steel was melted at its new innovative electric furnace based steelmaking complex Interpipe Steel.
The 1 millionth metric ton was melted just 15 months after the launch of the facility and 5 months after the melting of the 500,000th metric ton. Such a considerable increase in the production capacity has brought Interpipe Steel even closer to its designed capacity level.

In March the mill reached its designed monthly production capacity of 110,000 tons, while in June Interpipe Steel will come close to the mill's designed quarterly output capacity level.
Currently Interpipe Steel ensures 90% of Interpipe facilities' needs in pipe billets and 100% of needs in railway wheel billets. (SteelGuru)

Interpipe announces partnership agreement with Turkey Aydin Boru

Interpipe, a leading steel pipe manufacturing company of Ukraine, has signed a one year agreement with the large pipe distributor in Turkey, Aydin Boru, worth $15 million. 
The deal will see Aydin Boru as a major distributor of Interpipe' seamless line pipes in Turkey. As one of the longest standing companies in Turkey, Aydin Boru has been delivering a world class service to the main local consumers for over than 35 years.
Mr. Andrey Burtsev, director of sales and regional development at Interpipe, said that "Interpipe has been present in the Turkish market for over a decade, and this new partnership highlights our ongoing commitment to providing quality service and improved delivery times. Aydin Boru has proven to be a reliable partner in the industry and is renowned for focusing on the customer's need. Partnering with them as our official distributor in Turkey allows us to be confident that our customers always receive our certified products according to the standard and quality required”.
Mr. Bulent Ketenci, MD of Aydin Boru, said that "With years of experience in steel pipes, stock and supply distribution, our new partnership is a testament to our attention to customer satisfaction both before and after sales. We are delighted to be working with Interpipe and deliver products that meet the customer's needs".
Interpipe has been working in the steel manufacturing industry since 1985 and produced over 1.1 million tons of carbon steel pipes in 2012. (SteelGuru)

Interpipe Steel produced 500.000 tons of steel

Interpipe Steel mill has melted the 500 thousandth ton of steel. The mill gradually increases its production capacities having reached the monthly production rate in the amount of approximately 85 thousand tons of steel round billets in December 2012.
Mr. Gennadiy Yesaulov, director of Interpipe Steel, said that “The first heat at Interpipe Steel was conducted on January 17th last year. Over this period of almost a year we have produced half a million tons of steel. Production volumes of the mill rise month after month. We are consistently and steadily moving to reach the designed capacity”.
The mill plans to need a twice shorter period of time to produce the next half a million tons of steel.
Mr. Andrea Michielan, Interpipe Steel Operational Manager, said that “Interpipe Steel metallurgists have proved to be a highly-skilled and professional team working as a single mechanism. They have mastered new equipment and technological processes. And they are ready to ensure the planned production and economic parameters of work of the new mill”.
The designed capacity of Interpipe Steel is 1 million and 320 thousand tons of steel per year. The mill plans to reach the monthly level of this rate in 2013. (SteelGuru)

Interpipe to increase round billet production in October 2012

Ukrainian steel pipe and wheel producer Interpipe has announced that it plans to produce 70,000 tons of round billets in October, up by 27% compared to September, at its new electric furnace steelmaking complex Dniprostal.
The annual capacity of new complex is 1.32 million tons of pipe billets with diameters of 150 mm to 290 mm and 385 mm to 470 mm. (SteelOrbis)

Interpipe inaugurates EAF-based steel making complex

Interpipe, one of the leading steel pipes producers in Eastern and Central Europe, put into operation the Interpipe Steel electric steel making complex at Dniepropetrovsk with installed capacity of 1.32 million tons.
Interpipe Steel is the largest single private investment since Ukraine became independent. The mill combines innovative steel melting technologies from one of the top three metallurgical equipment producers, Italian Danieli, and works on the basis of international best practices in steel production.
This steel mill's state of the art equipment and green technology enable Interpipe to replace outdated open hearth steel production. This will reduce energy consumption per ton of steel by 2.2 times, decrease emissions by 2,5 times, and shorten the consumption of natural gas by 60 million cubic meters.
Mr. Victor Pinchuk, founder of Interpipe, said “When we thought about the construction of a new mill, we had a dream to create the most up to date metallurgical production in Ukraine. But in the course of our work we realized that we are able to do more. And we have created a mill, combining innovative technologies and production culture with contemporary art. This mill is the first and only one of its kind, built for the workers, the city, and society. And for me, the mill is also a tribute of honor to generations of Ukrainian metallurgists". (SteelGuru)

Duties on imports of seamless pipes to the EU from Interpipe reduced to 13.8%

On September 5th, 2012 the EU ruled to reduce the anti-dumping duties on seamless pipes, manufactured at Interpipe mills. As such, duties on imports of Interpipe seamless pipes to EU countries decreased to 13.8%.
The legislation review by the European Commission and the European Court has been running since 2006. In 2011 Interpipe filed a request to the European Commission asking for a review of anti-dumping measures. During the request revision the company proved that the margin of dumping has decreased significantly. In June 2012, the European Commission announced a reduction of duties on tubular goods of Interpipe from 25.1% to 17.7%. After that the EU Council published the decision to reduce them from 17.7% to 13.8% in September 2012.
Mrs. Vera Smal, sales director for pipes for Europe and CIS countries, said “The anti-dumping duties at the level of 13.8% will be a favorable factor to export development of tubular products in the EU market in 2012 -2013. Abatement in fees will allow the company to improve the position in Europe and increase the competitiveness of the pricing policy in the region. In addition, we can offer European customers a new product seamless pipes made of high quality billet by Interpipe Steel, the new electric steel melting complex”. (SteelGuru)

Interpipe wins reduction in EU tariff to 14%

Interpipe Group won a reduction of more than a fifth in a European Union steel-pipe tariff because the EU found the company had reduced price undercutting.
The EU lowered the import duty applying to two Interpipe units - Interpipe Niko Tube and Interpipe Nizhnedneprovsky Tube Rolling Plant OJSC - to 13.8% from 17.7%. The levy is part of EU trade protection as high as 35.8% on seamless pipes and tubes from Ukraine and Russia to help EU producers including ArcelorMittal counter below-cost or dumped imports.
Organizational changes at Interpipe including a merger between two production companies and a streamlining of the sales operations, led to a lower dumping margin. (Bloomberg)

EU may cut import duty for Interpipe

According to the European Commission documents, the European Union may lower import duties for Interpipe, the Ukrainian maker of pipes, for the second time since July.
The European Commission passed a draft resolution to the EU Council that envisaged cutting the duty to 13.8% from 17.7%. The tax was decreased to 17.7% from 25.1% last month. (Kommersant-Ukraine)

Interpipe NPW to increase pipe production in 2012

Ukrainian steel pipe and railway wheel producer Interpipe has stated that in the current year its subsidiary Interpipe Novomoskovsk Pipe Works plans to increase its production by 7.5% YoY to 235,000 tons of pipes. In 2011 the mill increased its pipe production by 20% YoY to 218,600 tons.
The company supplies 30% of its produced pipes to the domestic market, 11% to Russia, 33% to other CIS countries, 17% to Europe and 10% to counties in the NAFTA region. The mill specializes in the production of electric-welded steel pipes produced by submerged arc welding. (SteelOrbis)

Interpipe to shutdown Interpipe Nizhnedneprovsk Pipe open-hearth furnace

Interpipe, one of the leading steel pipe producers in Eastern and Central Europe, plans to close Interpipe Nizhnedneprovsk Pipe open-hearth furnace capacities in Q4 2012 while its output will be fully indemnified with Dneprostal electric furnace steel production.
Project capacity for Dneprostal in 2012 is estimated at 700,000 tons of assembled steel, while Interpipe Nizhnedneprovsk Pipe furnace’output in 2011 saw 525,000 tons of steel. (Phoenix Capital)

Interpipe produced pipes from Dniprostal yield

Interpipe rolled the first lot of seamless pipes, using the billets, produced at the new Dniprostal electric steel-smelting complex. The first pipe was rolled at the Interpipe NTRP plant.
The first pipe passed the entire set of tests, which confirmed the high quality of the billet steel. Production of the first pipe means that Interpipe moves to the vertically integrated company structure: from scrap procurement, through steel smelting, and up to the production of steel pipes and railway wheels. The list of consumers of Dniprostal pipe billets will include two company's plants, namely Interpipe NTRP and Interpipe Niko Tube. At present both enterprises are ready for integration with the Dniprostal electric steel smelting complex.
Mr. Alexander Kirichko, CEO of Interpipe, said that "One of the major reasons for Dniprostal construction is to ensure the provision of company' plants with our own billets for seamless pipes and railway wheels. Interpipe currently purchases 70% of steel billets for seamless pipes from external suppliers. When Dniprostal reaches its full capacity in 2014, Interpipe's self sufficiency in billets for production of seamless pipes will be 90%. Thus, the vertical integration of the company will be completed."
The rolling of the first pipe was carried out by one of the Interpipe NTRP shops, producing oil and gas pipes. Twelve billets with the weight of 100 tons were cut into ingots for production of casings (pipes used for oil and gas extraction). The rolling process resulted in 94 pipes with the length of 12 meters each.
Mr. Andrei Korotkov, chairman of Interpipe NTRP board, said that "Production of seamless pipes and railway wheels out of the continuously cast billets will allow Interpipe’s mastering and certification of new types of products, such as, for instance, corrosion-resistant pipes according to 5CT American standard and many other products. In addition to that we expect a considerable reduction in the metal discharge coefficient. Only for pipes we can save approximately 5000 tons of metal a year". (SteelGuru)

Interpipe launches hot testing at Dneprosteel

On January 17, 2012 Interpipe and Italian general contractor Danieli Company successfully began hot testing of the manufacturing equipment at the Dneprosteel Electric Steel Smelting Complex. During the first melting process 100 tons of steel billets were produced.
The hot testing will be carried out on the entire production chain of ESSC including arc steel-smelting furnace, ladle furnace unit, steel vacuum degassing unit and continuous casting machines No 1 and No 2. Over the course of the hot testing, staff will monitor the manufacturing process and conduct steel quality analyses.
Mr. Gennadiy Yesaulov, Director of Dneprosteel, said “To ensure the smooth progress of the hot testing process we have recruited and trained highly skilled employees, who have done extensive training at similar international metallurgical plants. Having completed the testing, Dneprosteel experts should have mastered the technicalities associated with the equipment and should be ready to take over the complex for commissioning.”
Mr. Alexander Kirichko, CEO of Interpipe, said “We have become witnesses to a very important national event. This was not just the first heat, but the birth of a new generation of metallurgy in Ukraine. The new plant is still making its first steps, but its foundation, made out of state-of-the-art technologies, international practices and new approaches to the culture of production will enable us to raise the standard of the Ukrainian metallurgical industry to a whole new level”.
The completion of hot and performance testing at Dneprosteel will last till the end of the first quarter of 2012; after that the plant will be officially commissioned. The projected production volume in 2012 will be approximately 700 thousand tons of steel billets. (SteelGuru)