It is estimated that the production capacity of world steel pipes is 58 - 80 million ton at present. Among them, welded pipes are about 39 - 40 million ton. Overall, the world steel pipe market keep balance in general.

America Market: America is the biggest importing seamless pipes country, its annual import volume increases rapidly. For instance, its import volume in 2002 is 0.733 million ton, in 2004 its import volume is up to 1.092 million ton, average annual growth reaches 24.5%. America implements the anti-dumping policy on Japanese steel pipes, which made Japanese steel pipes cannot enter America market and give new opportunities to other countries. 

Middle East Market: Middle East is the most important producing petroleum area all over the world. Besides the great demands on oil well pipes, Middle East Market also needs a large amount of line pipes and structural pipe. Annual importing volume is about 0.3 million ton, among them the import volume of ?219 steel pipes and bigger is about 0.15 million ton. The major importing countries are Japan and European countries. Gradually China is getting into the Middle East Market.

The worldwide consumption scale of seamless steel pipes will be about 10 -30 million ton during recent years. At present, ten major steel pipe export countries are China, Japan, America, Russia, Ukraine, German, Italy, British, France and Argentina. Among them, in China, Japan, America and Russia, seamless steel pipes are consumed inside. British and France keep balanced import and export volume. Other countries are mainly exporting countries, and the exporting volume is 30% - 70% of all. And they have formed three group companies, TENARIS, V&M and Japan Steel Pipe Union. These three group companies compete with the large steel group which is built by Russia. 

All in all, although international market is not big enough, it still has growth potential. For steel pipes plants, it is profitable to explore international market, enhance yourself competitiveness and fight for bigger market share.