Demand for Turkish welded pipes has weakened with the start of Ramadan and with the approach of the vacation season in Europe. Also, market players report insufficient demand from the construction sector and financing problems in the Turkish steel sector. However, Turkish suppliers of welded pipes have preferred to keep their domestic and export offers stable over the past two weeks. Although buying activity is expected to weaken further during Ramadan, market players believe they will not see price decreases in the coming period amid stable quotations for flat steel and the anticipated increase in buying activity in September.
Most offers of Turkish ERW pipes and hollow sections with 2-4 mm wall thickness made from hot rolled coil (HRC) of S235JR grade as per EN 10219 are being given to the domestic market at about $680-710/mt ex-works, while ERW pipes of 1.5 mm wall thickness made from cold rolled coil (CRC) are in the range of $770-800/mt ex-works. 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 in the domestic market at $710-730/mt ex-works.
Turkish producers are offering ERW pipes and hollow sections made from HRC of steel grade S235 JRH as per EN 10219 to foreign customers at around $680-700/mt FOB. Water and gas ERW pipes with 20-114 mm diameter and with 2.0-4.5 mm wall thickness made to EN 10255 from S235 grade HR products are being offered for export at about $710-730/mt FOB.