Turkey’s welded pipe producers have further increased their prices by $50/mt over the past week for January-February production. This step has been supported by higher hot rolled coil offers in the market and a solid uptrend in the scrap and slab segments. Local pipe prices have been set at $700-720/mt ex-works and buyers have already accepted this range. Moreover, it is believed that a new price rise is on the way. "We still have sufficient demand and we have set our prices very carefully. Buyers understand why we increase our prices and they accept that we have to follow raw material prices. HRC prices have already hit $700/mt and it is obvious now that we also have to increase," a producer told SteelOrbis.
On the export side, prices also have risen by the same amount, to $690-700/mt FOB, but demand is getting lower everyday because of the upcoming holiday season. "We are seeing lower demand week by week, but it is really normal for December. Buyers have already mostly bought their requirements for January and February. We assume that without Covid-19 we would have difficulties with the current quotas," an exporter told SteelOrbis
** 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.