The Bulgarian welded pipe market has seen no significant changes over the past two weeks. Local buyers remain passive due to slow consumer demand, while buying activity from some European countries, especially from Germany and France, is getting better on the back of some improvement in demand from consuming industries, including the automobile sector. However, Bulgarian pipe producers are in no hurry to revise prices seeing the ongoing bleak demand from most outlets. Domestic and export prices for Bulgarian welded pipes have remained unchanged from two weeks ago. Market players expect no changes in the market in the coming short-term period, and so Bulgarian suppliers will most likely maintain their prices at current levels.
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 €530-540/mt ($719-733/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 €500-510/mt ($679-692/mt) ex-works on theoretical weight basis for October production and at levels of €510-520/mt ($692-706/mt) ex-works for November production. Export offers of Bulgarian pipes with wall thickness of 1.5 mm made from HRC as per EN 10219 are at around €530-550/mt ($719-746/mt) ex-works. Export quotations of Bulgarian water and gas pipes according to EN 10255 are at €520-540/mt ($706-733/mt) ex-works. Export pipe quotations for lots less than 1,000 mt may be around €20/mt ($27/mt) higher.
€1 = $1.357