Italian seamless pipes are still facing weak demand in the domestic market and in most export destinations in line with seasonal factors. Over the past month, Italian suppliers of seamless pipes have maintained a firm stance on their domestic and export prices despite the slack demand in the market, while, due to the strength of the euro against the US dollar, prices in US dollar terms have increased by $22-29/mt. The market fundamentals are expected to remain weak in the short term amid insufficient demand from consuming industries and the approach of Christmas and the New Year holidays.
Current domestic prices for Italian hot rolled seamless tubes for mechanical applications, of 2"-6" size of E355 grade as per EN 10297, are at about €800-820/mt ($882-902/mt) ex-works, while quotations of seamless pipes of grade B as per ASTM A106/API 5L are at levels of €1,060-1,085/mt ($1,166-1,194/mt) ex-works.
Export quotations of Italian seamless pipes of 2"-6" Sch 40 of grade B as per ASTM A106/API 5L are at around €1,080-1,120/mt ($1,188-1,232/mt) FOB.
€1 = $1.10