BMZ plans to increase export of oil pipes in 2014

In 2014, the Belarusian Metallurgical Plant (BMZ) intends to increase the export of pipes for the oil and gas industry by 10 percent. In 2013, the company sold over 80 thousand tons of these products.

BMZ supplies its oil and gas pipes to 15 customers in seven countries. Last year, the key markets for the sale of these pipes were Venezuela and the United States, which received 80 percent of the total supply. The company began producing pipes for the oil and gas industry in accordance with the API 5L standard, which require processing in accordance with the API 5CT standard of the American Petroleum Institute.

Initially, BMZ provided for the use of 80 percent of the capacity for the production of pipes for mechanical engineering. However, market developments have proven that sales of engineering pipes can be volatile, while pipes for the oil and gas industry are in short supply. The company has focused its efforts in favor of oil country tubular goods.

The company built and commissioned a new finishing line to increase the share of pipes for the oil and gas industry to 60 percent of the total production of the pipe rolling division. In 2007, the company opened a pipe rolling division. Since then, the company has mastered the production of more than 1600 new types of pipes, including since 2009 for the oil and gas industry. These pipes must go through processes designed to meet increased quality requirements. BMZ exports over 80 percent of its products.