Domestic demand in the Turkish welded pipe market has started to improve slowly over the past two weeks in line with the warmer weather. Turkish exports of welded pipes to Europe have been affected by the uncertain economic situation in the region, while exports to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and to the US are strengthening gradually. Besides, Turkish pipe producers have not revised their offers over the past fortnight given relatively stable feedstock prices. Most market players prefer to observe market conditions more carefully, but Turkish pipe producers may attempt to push quotations up in the short run amid higher import scrap offers to Turkey and expected better demand.
Most offers of Turkish ERW pipes and hollow sections with 2-4 mm wall thickness made from hot rolled coil (HRC) of S235 grade as per EN 10219 are being given to the domestic market at about $550-580/mt ex-works on actual weight basis.
Turkish producers are offering ERW pipes and hollow sections made from HRC of steel grade S235 JRH as per EN 10219 to foreign customers at around $540-560/mt FOB. Water and gas ERW pipes with 20-114 mm diameter and with 2.0-4.5 mm wall thickness made to EN 10255 from S235 grade HR products are being offered for export at about $570-600/mt FOB.