Italian welded pipe producers have been forced to cut their domestic and export prices by €10-20/mt ($13-25/mt) over the past month amid weak demand and lower scrap prices. Import offers of Turkish welded pipes to the Italian market have decreased by €20/mt ($25/mt) during the period under review, while prices of Bulgarian material have remained unchanged during the same period. Nevertheless, the situation in the market remains bleak with slow buying activity in the sluggish construction sector and given the overall lackluster economic situation in Italy. Market operators believe Italian welded pipe prices are unlikely to pick up in the short run amid feeble demand and low raw material prices.
Italian welded pipes of 2"-6" size with wall thickness of 2.0-4.0 mm as per EN 10219 made from base steel grade S235JR hot rolled coil (HRC) are on sale to local clients at €515-540/mt ($649-680/mt) delivered. Prices are shown on actual weight basis and excluding 21 percent VAT. Galvanized pipes made to EN 10219 from DC01 grade CRC are quoted at €600-620/mt ($756-781/mt) delivered.
Export quotations of Italian 2"-6" welded pipes as per EN 10219 are at about €540-570/mt ($680-718/mt) FOB (transportation by sea) or €520-540/mt ($655-680/mt) ex-works (transportation overland).
Offers from Turkish suppliers of industrial welded pipes with 2-4 mm wall thickness made from HR coils are being given at an average of €520-540/mt ($655-680/mt) CFR to Italy and at €530-560/mt ($668-706/mt) CFR to Spain.
Offers of Bulgarian welded pipes to the Italian market are standing at an average of €530-550/mt ($668-693mt) CPT on theoretical weight basis.
€1 = $1.28