Russian companies start supplying pipes to Iran

The expected increase in the production and export of oil in Iran after the lifting of sanctions has attracted interest of Russian pipe manufacturers. TMK has already begun spot sales of pipes in the country, interest in Iran is also shown by its competitors - ChTPZ and OMK.

TMK plans to begin the shipment of oil and gas pipes (OCTG) in Iran against the background of the rising production in the country after the lifting of the sanctions, senior vice president of the company for strategy and business development Vladimir Shmatovich said to The Wall Street Journal yesterday. According to him, TMK already sells small volumes for spot sales and negotiates about long-term contracts. TMK specified to the Kommersant that it planned to ship "a few tens of thousands of tons" to Iran in 2016; we are talking about the deliveries to South Pars, Azadegan South, Sardar Jangal, Kish and Salmon. Basically, the company says, products from the Volzhsky pipe plant (VTZ, the production in 2015 made up 1.3 million tons) will be exported, prior to the sanction it was the largest supplier of pipes for the oil companies of Iran (the country received up to 40% of the export). TMK adds that the company now has 300 thousand tons of spare capacity.