Taiwanese steel pipe manufacturers are facing significant pressure on export orders due to the US imposing import tariffs of up to 50% on steel products. Although inquiries about US oil pipes have slightly recovered in the past six months, distributors are offering low prices, squeezing profit margins.

Some steel pipe manufacturers, due to high inventories of API pipe materials, are forced to accept orders at lower prices to accelerate inventory reduction. 

Market participants point out that current quotations barely cover costs, and refusing orders risks losing market share. They are forced to ship existing inventory sizes with orders to avoid further stockpiling, prioritizing inventory reduction in the short term.