Although buying activity in the Bulgarian market for welded pipes has improved slightly, demand is insufficient to support pipe price increases. Furthermore, taking into account soft feedstock prices, Bulgarian pipe mills have been forced to take a backward step on prices. Domestic prices of Bulgarian welded pipes have moved down by a maximum of BGN 20/mt over the past two weeks, though prices on US dollar basis have increased by $46-54/mt in the same period due to the fluctuation of the exchange rate. Export quotations of Bulgarian welded pipes have decreased by €10-20/mt over the period under review. Meanwhile, most Bulgarian producers are booked with orders for June and will likely leave their domestic and export prices of welded pipes stable in the coming period.
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 940-960/mt ($540-552/mt) ex-works, exclusive of 20 percent VAT and on actual 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 €440-460/mt ($492-515/mt) FCA on theoretical weight basis. Export quotations of Bulgarian water and gas pipes according to EN 10255 are at €470-490/mt ($526-549/mt) FCA.
$1 = BGN 1.74
€1 = $1.12