The Bulgarian welded pipe market has remained stable over the past two weeks. Bulgarian buyers are inactive given slack demand from consuming industries, while demand from foreign customers remains sluggish. However, Bulgarian producers have managed to maintain domestic and export prices unchanged at previous levels thanks to high input costs.
Market players believe the market will be quiet in the coming period due to the unfavorable economic conditions in the region.
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 €550-560/mt ($721-734/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 €500-510/mt ($655-668/mt) ex-works on theoretical weight basis for May production, and at €520-530/mt ($681-694/mt) ex-works for lots less than 1,000 mt. Export offers of similar Bulgarian pipes with wall thickness of 1.5 mm made from HRC as per EN 10219 are at around €530-560/mt ($694-734/mt) ex-works. Export quotations of Bulgarian water and gas pipes according to EN 10255 are at €520-540/mt ($681-707/mt) ex-works.
€1 = $1.31