TMK announces 3Q19 operational results

9M 2019 vs. 9M 2018

• Total pipe shipments slightly declined y/y, due to lower shipments of both seamless and welded pipe (down 1% and 5% y/y, respectively), resulting mainly from a decrease in shipments at the American division. This was partially offset by increased total pipe shipments at the Russian division (up 5% y/y), driven by higher shipments of seamless OCTG pipe (9% y/y) and large diameter pipe (up 68% y/y).
• Total OCTG shipments were down 4% y/y. OCTG shipments at the Russian division grew 7% y/y due to an increasing complexity of hydrocarbon production projects in Russia and a higher share of horizontal drilling.
• Total shipments of premium-threaded connections were down by 5% y/y, to 282 000 t, while shipments at the Russian division increased 16% y/y.

3Q19 vs. 2Q19

• Total pipe shipments declined, as the company guided before, as the third quarter is traditionally lower, due to pre-planned upgrade and maintenance works at the Russian division’s key production facilities and a seasonal slowdown of activities in the European market.
• Seamless pipe shipments were down 4% quarter-on-quarter, largely due to lower OCTG and line pipe shipments at the American division, as activity in the North American market continues to soften – impacted by oil price instability, a continued decrease in rig count, higher pipe inventories on the ground and stricter capital discipline of oil and gas companies. The pre-planned upgrade and maintenance works at the Russian division’s key production facilities and a seasonal slowdown of activities in the European market have also contributed to the total result.
• Welded pipe shipments decreased by 15% quarter-on-quarter, due to a decline in OCTG and line pipe shipments at the American division, as well as due to lower large diameter pipe shipments at the Russian division.
• OCTG shipments declined by 11% quarter-on-quarter, mainly due to lower shipment volumes at the American division and lower shipments at the Russian division as the result of pre-planned upgrade and maintenance works at the Russian division’s key production facilities.

Igor Korytko, CEO of TMK, said: “In 9M 2019, TMK achieved strong growth in Russian division, where shipments of seamless OCTG, our core product segment, grew 9% y/y due to stable demand from the domestic oil and gas companies. Overall 9M 2019 performance was restrained by continued softness in the North American market, which resulted in a 2% year-on-year decline in total pipe shipments.

TMK remains focused on developing high tech products, including unique premium connections, to meet the growing demand from Russian major oil and gas companies developing increasingly complex exploration and production projects. As a result, total shipments of premium-threaded connections at the Russian division grew 11% y/y in 9M 2019.”

2019 outlook

In Russia, TMK expects pipe consumption by domestic oil and gas companies to remain stable in 2019. The increased complexity of hydrocarbon production projects in Russia is expected to result in higher demand for high tech products.

In North America, the market situation is most likely to remain challenging due to the oil, gas and steel price volatility, a slowdown in drilling activity and operators focusing on capital discipline all resulting in lower pipe demand and pressure on prices.;

In Europe, a challenging market environment and pricing pressure are most likely to remain until the end of the year. This might put pressure on seamless industrial pipe shipments at the European division in the fourth quarter.

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/17102019/tmk-announces-3q19-operational-results/