Turkish producers of ERW pipes have increased domestic and export prices in recent days due to the rising price trends in the local Turkish flat steel market. Thus, export quotations of ERW pipes and hollow sections have risen by $50-70/mt compared to the levels of two weeks ago, while domestic prices have increased by $60-80/mt. The price increases have caused some panic in the domestic market, with many local consumers starting to buy pipe material as they fear that this uptrend will continue in the coming period. As regards exports, it is still unclear if foreign customers will accept the new prices. Currently, only the African market is active, while the other markets are quiet. Everyone is waiting for a response from the European buyers.
Export prices of Turkish ERW pipes of 2-6 mm wall thickness made from HRC are in the range $530-570/mt FOB, the prices of round and square hollow sections of 2-6 mm wall thickness made to EN 10219 or ASTM A500 are at $510-560/mt FOB. Export offers of ERW pipes of 1.5 mm wall thickness made from CRC are at the level $610-650/mt FOB, with hollow sections at $600-640/mt FOB. Water and gas ERW pipes of 2.0-4.5 mm wall thickness made to EN 10255/DIN 2440 from S235 grade HR products are being offered for export at a minimum of $550/mt FOB.
Domestic quotations of ERW pipes of 2-6 mm wall thickness made from HRC are at the level $550-560/mt ex-works, and ERW pipes of 1.5 mm wall thickness made from CRC are at the range of $620-630/mt ex-works. Domestic prices of round, square and rectangular hollow sections grades A of 2-4 mm wall thickness made to ASTM A500 from HRC are at about $500-550/mt ex-works, while prices of hollow sections of 1.5 mm wall thickness made from CRC are at about $600-620/mt ex-works.
Official prices of Borusan Mannesmann for black water ERW pipes of 2"-4" size and 4.5-5.4 mm wall thickness made to EN 10255 are in the range $1,120-1,170/mt ex-works, while 5"-6" size material with 5.4 mm wall thickness stands in the range of $1,270-1,280/mt ex-works. However, current discounts may reach 26-28 percent. As a result, taking into account the discount levels, in fact domestic prices of black water ERW pipes are at the level $810-840/mt ex-works for 2"-4" and at $920/mt ex-works for 5"-6".
Actual offers of galvanized water pipes of 2"-4" size made to EN 10255 are being given to the domestic market at $1,050-1,090/mt ex-works. Quotations for industrial pipes of 60-76 mm outside diameter and 1.5-2.0 mm wall thickness made to DIN 2394/EN 10305-3 from CRC are at the level of $1,190-1,210/mt ex-works (taking discounts into consideration).