Bulgarian welded pipe market stagnant amid seasonal slump

The welded pipe market in Bulgaria remains very quiet owing to the summer slowdown. Bulgarian pipe makers have maintained their export quotations at previous levels, while domestic prices of welded pipes have gone up by €30/mt over the past two weeks on expected better demand for September deliveries after the holiday period. However, this price increase is based only on the optimism of market players, but not on real support from customers yet. Producers will likely try to raise prices in September on the back of restocking activity and expected higher feedstock prices, though opinion varies over whether they will be successful.
 
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 €630-650/mt (BGN 1,230-1,270/mt) ex-works, exclusive of 20 percent VAT and on theoretical weight basis. Offers of similar pipes with wall thickness of 1.5 mm made from HRC as per EN 10219 are at €680-690/mt ex-works. Bulgarian domestic quotations of water and gas ERW pipes made to EN 10255 are at €650-670/mt ex-works.
 
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 €600-610/mt ex-works on a theoretical weight basis. Offers of similar Bulgarian pipes with wall thickness of 1.5 mm made from HRC as per EN10219 are at around €650-660/mt ex-works. Export quotations of Bulgarian water and gas pipes according to EN 10255 are at €620-630/mt ex-works. ERW galvanized pipes with 2-3 mm wall thickness made to DIN 2440/2444 are quoted in the foreign markets at on average €780-800/mt ex-works.