In the local Bulgarian welded pipe market there has been little purchasing activity and market participants report that domestic prices for ERW pipes and hollow sections are mostly unchanged. Foreign consumers have shown greater interest in Bulgarian welded pipes and export offers have gone up by €20-40/mt over the past two weeks. Market insiders predict further welded pipe price increases into the fourth quarter when the market becomes active again and as feedstock costs are expected to rise.
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 domestic market at around €600-620/mt ex-works, exclusive of 20 percent VAT and on actual weight basis. Offers of similar pipes with wall thickness of 1.5 mm made from HRC are in the range of €650-660/mt ex-works. Domestic quotations of water and gas ERW pipes made to EN 10255 are at €620-640/mt ex-works.
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 €620-640/mt ex-works on actual weight basis for September production. Offers of similar pipes with wall thickness of 1.5 mm made from S235JR grade HRC as per EN10219 are in the range of €670-690/mt ex-works. Export quotations of Bulgarian water and gas pipes according to EN 10255 are at €640-660/mt ex-works.