Over the past month, the Italian welded pipe market has observed an upward trend in prices in spite of weak demand. The main reason for the rise in welded pipe prices is the increased strength of prices for flat products and raw materials. Italian welded pipe producers have raised their domestic and export prices by €10-30/mt ($13-38/mt) over the past month. Import offers of Turkish welded pipes to the Italian market have increased by €20/mt ($26/mt) during the period under review, while prices of Bulgarian material have moved up by a maximum of €10/mt ($13/mt) during the same period. Although demand for welded pipes in the Italian market remains slack due to slow construction activity in the country, welded pipe suppliers do not intend to cut their quotations in the coming period citing higher production costs. However, the duration of the upward trend in the Italian market for welded pipes will depend on the strength of demand.
Italian welded pipes of 2"-6" size with wall thickness of 2.0-4.0 mm as per EN 10219 made from base steel grade S235JR hot rolled coil (HRC) are on sale to local clients at €530-550/mt ($683-708/mt) delivered. Prices are shown on actual weight basis and excluding 21 percent VAT. Galvanized pipes made to EN 10219 from DC01 grade CRC are quoted at €600-640/mt ($773-824/mt) delivered.
Export quotations of Italian 2"-6" welded pipes as per EN 10219 are at about €560-580/mt ($721-747/mt) FOB (transportation by sea) or €530-550/mt ($683-708/mt) ex-works (transportation overland).
Offers from Turkish suppliers of industrial welded pipes with 2-4 mm wall thickness made from HR coils are being given at an average of €540-560/mt ($696-721/mt) CFR to Italy and at €550-580/mt ($708-747/mt) CFR to Spain.
Offers of Bulgarian welded pipes to the Italian market are standing at an average of €530-550/mt ($683-708mt) CPT on theoretical weight basis.
€1 = $1.28