The Bulgarian welded pipe market is currently very quiet, as local and other European buyers are only now coming back from their summer holidays and are still very slow to place orders. Prices for Bulgarian welded pipes have remained stable over the past two weeks. The market is still expected to see some improvement in activity in September, but the general market will remain slow in 2012 due to the weak economic situation in Europe. Bulgarian producers think that welded pipe quotations in the coming period may only be influenced by movements in hot rolled coil prices.
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 €560-570/mt ($706-718/mt) ex-works, exclusive of 20 percent VAT and on theoretical 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 the level of €500-520/mt ($630-655/mt) ex-works on theoretical weight basis for September production. Offers of similar Bulgarian pipes with wall thickness of 1.5 mm made from HRC as per EN 10219 are at around €530-550/mt ($668-693/mt) ex-works for September rolling. Export quotations of Bulgarian water and gas pipes according to EN 10255 are at €520-540/mt ($655-680/mt) ex-works.
€1 = $1.26