The situation in the Bulgarian welded pipe market has deteriorated. Local buyers are hardly interested in purchasing welded pipes because of seasonally low demand from consuming industries. Most foreign customers prefer to postpone their purchases, fearing to book material in a falling market. Over the past three weeks, export welded pipe prices in Bulgaria have declined by around €10-15/mt ($14-21/mt) amid weaker flat steel prices and negative market sentiment, while domestic offers have gone down by BGN 10/mt ($7/mt). Market participants think that the market picture will likely remain unchanged in the near future amid subdued business activity.
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 BGN 1,020-1,030/mt ($716-723/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 levels of €480-510/mt ($659-700/mt) ex-works on theoretical weight basis for March production. Export quotations of Bulgarian water and gas pipes according to EN 10255 are at €500-530/mt ($686-727/mt) ex-works.
$1 = BGN 1.42
€1 = $1.37