Turkey’s welded pipe producer have once again cut their prices for local and foreign customers amid falling scrap and hot rolled coil (HRC) feedstock prices and the general slowdown in the demand.
As a result, export prices have decreased by $15/mt during the past week to $500-520/mt FOB, with sales remaining rather weak. In the local Turkish market, prices have declined by $10/mt week on week to $490-510/mt ex-works; however, market sources say that in actual transactions the producers are ready to give additional $10/mt discounts. The sentiment in the pipe segment remains negative, mainly because the demand from the consuming industries is not foreseen to revive in the short run. In addition, HRC prices are expected to fall further. The most recent HRC import prices from Russia were at around $430/mt CFR, while in the local market pipe producers expect to book at $435-440/mt ex-works, SteelOrbis understands.
**Prices are given for ERW pipes and hollow sections with 2-4 mm wall thickness made from HRC of S235 grade as per EN 10219, on theoretical weight basis.