In August, South Korean steel pipe exports were affected bythe sharp decline in US steel import quotas. Exports fell to 146,600 tons from247,900 tons in the same period last year, down 53.8% year-on-year.

In August, the export volume of Korean petroleum steel pipesdecreased from 80,200 tons in the same period of last year to 2,438 tons, down97% year-on-year; the export volume of pipeline steel dropped from 52,900 tonsto 23,200 tons, down 56% year-on-year; the output of spiral welded pipes from3274 The ton dropped to 1,403 tons; the output of straight seam welded pipedecreased from 37,500 tons to 35,700 tons; the export volume of rectangularpipe decreased from 8,198 tons to 1,620 tons.

Korean steel pipe manufacturers expect South Korea to resumeoil-specific pipe exports to the US market in the fourth quarter of this year,and its performance will pick up. According to a notice signed by US President Trump on August30, the United States will specifically relax import quota restrictions onKorean steel products.