In the past week, the problem of unavailability of raw materials, which had been seen in the market since April, has now completely disappeared with the return of a supplier who had been out of the market for some time. However, buyers are afraid that increases in the local welded
pipe market will continue due to the strengthening of the US dollar against the Turkish lira. Meanwhile, demand in the local market has improved and is lively on the back of the ongoing Trans-Anatolian pipeline project (TANAP) and due to the lively construction activity in
Turkey amid better weather conditions.
On the other hand, demand for Turkish welded
pipe in export markets such as the Middle East,
Europe and the US is still weaker than in the Turkish domestic market. Therefore, Turkish producers are focusing on their local market instead of on foreign markets.
Most offers of Turkish ERW pipes and hollow sections with 2-4 mm wall thickness made from hot rolled coil (HRC) of S235 grade as per EN 10219 are being given to the domestic market at about $530-580/mt ex-works on actual weight basis, indicating no change as compared to last week.
Turkish producers are still offering ERW pipes and hollow sections made from HRC of steel grade S235 JRH as per EN 10219 to foreign customers at around $480-520/mt FOB. Water and gas ERW pipes with 20-114 mm diameter and with 2.0-4.5 mm wall thickness made to EN 10255 from S235 grade HR products are being offered for export at about $515-550/mt FOB.