Another vessel just left Tianjin Port headed south. Its cargo holds 85 tons of API 5L GR.B PSL1 pipes bound for Buenos Aires. Engineers in Argentina already track the ship on live marine traffic maps. They know the steel will arrive exactly when their pipeline spreading crews need it.
Argentina’s Pipeline Boom Meets China’s Production Power
Vaca Muerta keeps rewriting records. Shale gas and oil flow north through brand-new gathering systems. Old trunk lines need replacement. Water injection projects spread across Patagonia. Every kilometer demands tough, reliable line pipe.
API 5L GR.B PSL1 remains the go-to grade for most onshore projects. It delivers 240 MPa minimum yield strength and excellent weldability. Contractors love the balance between cost and performance. When diameters climb above 16 inches, LSAW technology wins the contract almost every time.
Longma Group sits in Cangzhou City, Hebei Province, the undisputed capital of welded steel pipe in China. Five huge JCOE lines and three spiral mills run around the clock. Raw plates arrive from nearby mills in less than two hours. Finished pipes reach Tianjin Port in another two. That geography cuts weeks off delivery schedules to South America.
Inside the Latest Shipment That Left Tianjin This October
October 1, 2025, marks more than a departure date. It proves once again that Chinese mills can meet tight Latin American schedules.
The load includes six different sizes, all API 5L GR.B PSL1:
- 609.6 mm × 9.53 mm × 12 m
- 609.6 mm × 15.88 mm × 12 m
- 457.2 mm × 12.7 mm × 12 m
- 457.2 mm × 29.36 mm × 12 m
- 457.2 mm × 6.35 mm × 12 m
- 406.4 mm × 26.19 mm × 12 m
Fifty-seven pieces total 85 tons. Every joint carries full mill test certificates, hydrostatic test reports, and third-party inspection releases from SGS.
Argentine buyers requested both LSAW and ERW production methods. Longma delivered both from the same mill under one order. That flexibility saves procurement teams months of coordination.
Why South American Buyers Keep Choosing Longma Group?
Many buyers worry less about the steel and more about the journey. A pipe that looks perfect in the mill yard can arrive bent or damaged after long transport if the packing is weak. For South America, the voyage can stretch across many weeks. Each transfer, from factory truck to port crane to vessel hold, adds another risk point.
Longma Group addresses these concerns with clear steps. Everything starts with the contract review. The sales and technical teams check pipe sizes, wall thicknesses, length, and end preparation. They confirm whether the client needs beveled ends, external coating, or internal lining. Projects that use API 5L GR.B PSL1 pipes for oil and gas transmission often specify twelve meter length and bevels ready for field welding.
Next comes the production plan. For a mixed size order, the factory groups pipes by diameter and thickness. This reduces tool changes and keeps welding settings stable. Quality teams set inspection checkpoints and prepare test coupons according to API 5L. Once manufacturing begins, the client can receive regular updates, including photos from the production line.
After inspection and hydrostatic testing, Longma Group prepares the pipes for export. Workers place plastic caps on ends to protect bevels and prevent moisture from entering. They apply anti-rust oil or wrapping according to the shipping time and final climate. Pipes are usually bundled with steel straps or laid in steel frames, depending on diameter and wall thickness.
Transport to Tianjin Port follows. Trucks carry the API 5L GR.B PSL1 pipes from Cangzhou to the port yard. There, stevedores and surveyors check bundle condition and match quantities against the packing list. The pipes then move into the vessel’s hold or onto flat racks. For large diameters, supports and chocks prevent rolling and impact during the voyage.
A recent shipment from Longma Group illustrates these steps in a concrete way. The company prepared an order of API 5L GR.B PSL1 steel pipes for a client in Argentina. The pipes went through LSAW, ERW, and seamless processes, depending on size. After production and inspection, they were successfully delivered to Tianjin Port, China, ready for export.
The shipment had a planned departure date of October 1st, 2025, with Buenos Aires Port as the destination. The order included several specifications, all twelve meters long, such as 609.6 millimeters by 9.53 millimeters, 609.6 millimeters by 15.88 millimeters, 457.2 millimeters by 12.7 millimeters, 457.2 millimeters by 29.36 millimeters, 457.2 millimeters by 6.35 millimeters, and 406.4 millimeters by 26.19 millimeters. In total, the batch reached about 85 tons and 57 pieces.
This mix of diameters and wall thicknesses reflects real pipeline needs. Some lines handle higher pressure and need thicker walls. Other lines run at lower pressure or shorter distance and can use lighter sections. Instead of splitting the order across many factories, the buyer used one supplier for all pieces. That reduced coordination work and simplified documentation.
At the documentation stage, Longma Group issued mill test certificates for each heat. These certificates listed chemical composition, mechanical properties, and test results according to API 5L GR.B PSL1 requirements. The company also prepared a packing list, commercial invoice, and bill of lading information. For clients working with letters of credit, this paperwork matters as much as the steel itself.
Once the vessel left Tianjin, the buyer could track its route using standard shipping tools. While the ship crossed oceans, the project team in Argentina prepared storage yards and installation plans. When the pipes arrived at Buenos Aires Port, the local logistics agent handled customs clearance and inland transport to the project site.
Your Next Argentine Project Can Start on Schedule
Deadlines in Vaca Muerta wait for no one. A single week of delay costs millions in rig time and fracturing crews.
We just proved again that China delivers API 5L GR.B PSL1 pipes to Argentina without drama. On October 1, 2025, 85 tons—57 pieces in six different sizes ranging from 406.4 mm to 609.6 mm diameter—left Tianjin Port exactly on time. Destination: Buenos Aires. Every joint passed SGS inspection with zero remarks.
Your project deserves the same certainty.
Need API 5L GR.B PSL1 pipes delivered to Buenos Aires or any South American port before your spreading crew runs out of steel?
Email us right now at info@longma-group.com. We reply within 4 hours—weekends included.
FAQ
What does PSL1 mean in API 5L?
PSL1 is the standard quality level. It requires one test per heat for chemistry and tensile properties. PSL2 adds stricter chemistry, mandatory notch-toughness testing, and non-destructive inspection of every pipe.
Can Longma supply API 5L GR.B with HIC or SSC testing?
Yes. We routinely produce GR.B PSL2 with NACE TM0284 HIC and TM0177 SSC tests for Vaca Muerta sour service projects.
How long does sea freight take from Tianjin to Buenos Aires?
Typical transit time ranges 32–38 days via Cape of Good Hope routing. We book space three weeks in advance to guarantee vessel cutoff.
Do you offer cutting-to-length and beveling services?
Absolutely. All pipes ship with 30° ± 5° bevels and 1.6 mm ± 0.8 mm root face per API 5L. We cut to any length between 6 m and 18 m.
What is the minimum order quantity for Argentina?
One full 20-ft container—roughly 25 tons. Mixed sizes are welcome.
References
- American Petroleum Institute. (2023). API Specification 5L, 46th Edition.
- Longma Group Export Records & Mill Test Certificates 2003–2025.
- Argentine Secretariat of Energy. (2024). Vaca Muerta Pipeline Development Plan 2024–2030.
- China Iron and Steel Association. (2024). Hebei-Cangzhou Welded Pipe Cluster Report.
- SGS Inspection Reports for Shipment LMG-AR2025-10.
