In the past two weeks, demand in the Turkish welded pipe market has remained at moderate levels, while prices have increased by $30-40/mt. "With the support of demand and higher scrap and hot rolled coil prices in the country, we have increased our prices too. Prices have been increasing since Monday and we think we can see even higher levels next week. The fluctuations in the US dollar-Turkish lira exchange rate and the uncertainty in the economy limit our demand, otherwise we believe we would already have sold all of our production for 2020," one producer told SteelOrbis.
"We are now offering for November like most producers in the market. There is still availability for October production, but not for big tonnages, and prices for October production are $20/mt higher on average than current prices," another producer told SteelOrbis.
Prices are now at $580-590/mt ex-works in the local market.
On the export side, prices have also increased by $30/mt in the past two weeks to $550-570/mt FOB. Demand is better now, especially in the EU. "HRC price increases in the EU have supported our pipe export prices and demand is now better. Covid-19 measures create no barrier against imported materials anymore and buyers are more willing to import. We will expect more sales and price increases at least up to mid-November." A trader told SteelOrbis.
** Prices are given for ERW pipes and hollow sections with 2-4 mm wall thickness made from HRC of S235 grade as per EN 10219, on theoretical weight basis.