Buying activity in the Italian welded pipe market is rather low ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays. Italian welded pipe producers have maintained their domestic and export prices unchanged at previous levels, despite the recent price increases for locally produced flat steel products. Market players believe the situation in the Italian welded pipe market may not be positive in December given the winter conditions and the Christmas holidays, while no surge is expected in either demand or prices.
Current local prices for Italian welded pipes of 2"-6" size with wall thickness of 2.0-4.0 mm as per EN 10219 made of base steel grade S235JR HR coils are at about €450-470/mt ($492-514/mt) ex-works. Prices are shown on actual weight basis and excluding 22 percent VAT. Domestic prices for standard-size precision welded tubes E235 grade as per EN 10305-3 are at about €550-560/mt ($601-612/mt) ex-works.
Export quotations of Italian 2"-6" welded pipes as per EN 10219 are at about €490-500/mt ($536-547/mt) FOB or €460-470/mt ($503-514/mt) ex-works.