Seamless pipe prices in Romania have gone up over the past month in line with raw material prices, while domestic demand has remained flat. In 2010 seamless pipe consumption in Romania is expected to climb up slightly due to the development of some pipe using sectors. For example, it is reported that Romanian auto exports continued to increase rapidly in April, fuelled by international demand. The realization of infrastructure projects and increased construction activity should also drive seamless pipe consumption and improve the situation in the pipe market in Romania. Domestic and export quotations of Romanian seamless pipes have increased by €50-80/mt over the past month amid higher raw material costs. Import offers of seamless pipes from the Czech Republic have moved up by €15-50/mt over the same period. For the coming month Romanian pipe producers will probably offer seamless pipes at the same prices or with some small upward corrections based only on the raw material input price from suppliers, who are looking for better prices for their steel.
Current local prices for June production seamless pipes of ½"-4" size of grade B as per ASTM A106 or EN from Romanian producer TMK-ARTROM are at about €950-1,000/mt ex-works (here and below on a theoretical weight basis and excluding 19 percent VAT). Seamless pipes of 3"-10" size made to EN 10216 from ArcelorMittal Roman are quoted to the domestic market at €970-990/mt ex-works.
Export offers of 3"-6" seamless pipes of grade B made to ASTM A106 are being given by ArcelorMittal Roman to the external markets at around €980-1,000/mt FCA, while seamless pipes of 12" size are at about €1,030-1,050/mt FCA.
Prices for import seamless pipes 2"-6" in diameter of grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L from ArcelorMittal Ostrava are within the range of €950-970/mt CPT for July output. Quotations of seamless pipes 2"-4" in diameter of grade St.35.8 made to DIN 2448/DIN 17175 from ArcelorMittal Ostrava are in the range of €1,030-1,050/mt CPT for July output.