Demand in the Italian welded pipe market is still rather poor. Customers prefer to not purchase large quantities before the end of the year and are buying only what they need. Italian welded pipe producers have lowered their domestic and export prices by €5-10/mt ($6-13/mt) over the past month as a consequence of the lack of demand, financial problems and the decline in scrap prices. Import offers of Turkish and Bulgarian welded pipes to the Italian market have remained unchanged during the same period. The prospects for the European welded pipe using sectors remain subdued. Up to the end of this year, welded pipe prices from Italian producers will likely stay at present levels or they may go down slightly.
Italian welded pipes of 2"-6" size with wall thickness of 2.0-4.0 mm as per EN 10219 made from base steel grade S235JR hot rolled coil (HRC) are on sale to local clients at €510-530/mt ($637-663/mt) delivered. Prices are shown on actual weight basis and excluding 21 percent VAT. Galvanized pipes made to EN 10219 from DC01 grade CRC are quoted at €600-620/mt ($750-775/mt) delivered.
Export quotations of Italian 2"-6" welded pipes as per EN 10219 are at about €540-560/mt ($675-700/mt) FOB (transportation by sea) or €510-530/mt ($636-663/mt) ex-works (transportation overland).
Offers from Turkish suppliers of industrial welded pipes with 2-4 mm wall thickness made from HR coils are being given at an average of €520-540/mt ($650-675/mt) CFR to Italy and at €530-560/mt ($663-700/mt) CFR to Spain.
Offers of Bulgarian welded pipes to the Italian market are standing at an average of €530-550/mt ($663-688mt) CPT on theoretical weight basis.
€1 = $1.25