Over the past two weeks, domestic quotations for Bulgarian welded pipes have remained in the previous price range due to extremely weak demand, while export prices for March production material have moved up by €10-20/mt on the back of higher offers of flat steel from the CIS and in response to slowly improving sentiments from foreign buyers. While domestic demand remains weak in Bulgaria due to financing problems and a lack of infrastructure projects, foreign buyers are showing more interest in Bulgarian welded pipes. Bulgarian pipe producers rule out any price drop in the coming period due to higher buying activity in spring and rising offers of flat steel material.
Current offers of locally produced welded pipes and hollow sections of 2-5 mm wall thickness made from S235JR grade hot rolled coil (HRC) according to EN 10219 are being given to the Bulgarian domestic market at around €610-615/mt (BGN 1,200/mt) ex-works, exclusive of 20 percent VAT and on theoretical weight basis.
Export quotations of Bulgarian ERW pipes and hollow sections of 2-5 mm wall thickness made from S235JR grade HRC as per EN 10219 are at the level of €600-610/mt ex-works on theoretical weight basis for March production. Offers of similar Bulgarian pipes with wall thickness of 1.5 mm made from HRC as per EN 10219 are at around €630-640/mt ex-work for March rolling. Export quotations of Bulgarian water and gas pipes according to EN 10255 are at €620-630/mt ex-works.