Brazil based Vallourec & Mannesmann Tubes announced that it plans to increase its seamless quenched tubes production by 40% in 2009.

Vallourec & Mannesmann said that the move is in an effort to meet strong domestic demand for pipe and it will increase its production from the current 150,000 tone per year to 210,000 tonne per year. In addition, the increasing oil and gas production trend will also boost the demand for steel pipe.

Currently, V&M produced about 550,000 tonne a year of all types of seamless tubes.