In the current Turkish welded pipe market, while some producers prefer to keep their prices stable in order to be competitive, others are trying to raise quotations to test the market. Over the past two weeks, domestic quotations of welded pipes in Turkey have increased by $40-70/mt, while export prices have gone up by $10-60/mt. At the same time demand both from local and foreign customers remains low. Market insiders are concerned that import offers of flat products may increase in the coming period due to rising scrap costs. This would be likely to find a reflection in welded pipe prices. However, the future trend of welded pipe prices will definitely depend on the reaction of buyers to the new higher prices and on the level of demand in the domestic and international markets.
Domestic quotations of ERW pipes and hollow sections of 2-6 mm wall thickness made from HRC are at the level of $620-670/mt ex-works, while ERW pipes and hollow sections of 1.5 mm wall thickness made from CRC are at the range of $700-770/mt ex-works. Water and gas ERW pipes of 2.0-4.5 mm wall thickness made to EN 10255/DIN 2440 from S235 grade HR products are being offered to the domestic market at $640-690/mt ex-works.
Current export prices of Turkish ERW pipes and hollow sections of 2-6 mm wall thickness made from HRC according to EN 10219 or ASTM A500 are at the level of $650-700/mt FOB. Export offers of ERW pipes and hollow sections of 1.5 mm wall thickness made from HRC are at around $730-790/mt FOB, while the same products made from CRC are at $750-800/mt FOB. Water and gas ERW pipes of 2.0-4.5 mm wall thickness made to EN 10255 from S235 grade HR products are being offered for export at about $670-720/mt FOB.