Seamless pipe purchases on slow side in Romania

Seamless pipe consumption in the Romanian market has remained low due to the lack of investments in construction and infrastructure projects. Most local seamless pipe suppliers have kept their prices stable over the past month amid modest end-user demand, while import offers of Czech material have declined by a maximum of €10/mt ($14/mt). However, suppliers may try to raise their seamless pipe prices in the coming period on the back of higher scrap costs and anticipated higher business activity. Meanwhile, the slow recovery of end-user demand across Europe has cast a shadow over market sentiment.
 
Romanian domestic quotations of 3"-10" seamless pipes made to ASTM or EN are at about €880-920/mt ($1,206-1,261/mt) delivered, excluding 24 percent VAT.
 
Export offers of 3"-10" seamless pipes of grade B made to ASTM A106/API 5L are being given by ArcelorMittal Roman to the external markets at around €900-940/mt ($1,233-1,288/mt) FCA, while 16" pipes are at levels of €980-1,060/mt ($1,343-1,452/mt) FCA.
 
Import offers of 3"-4" seamless pipes from the Czech Republic (ArcelorMittal) of grade B as per ASTM A106 are being given to the Romanian market at €920-950/mt ($1,268-1,310/mt) CPT.
 
€1 = $1.37