Italian welded pipe prices have continued to soften over the past month due to lower input costs and lack of demand in the market. In the foreign markets, it is mainly buyers from western Europe, in particular from Germany and France, who are showing interest in the Italian products. Nevertheless, the export market is a little stronger as compared with the weak domestic market. Domestic and export quotations of Italian welded pipes have decreased by a maximum of €30/mt over the past month. Indian suppliers have lowered their offers for Italy by €70/mt, while prices of Bulgarian welded pipes have decreased by €50-70/mt - both over the past month. Offers of Turkish welded pipes have declined by €10-30/mt over the period under review, remaining the most attractive for Italian consumers. The future market trend remains unclear and there are many rumors in the market. Customers are waiting for further declines in prices, but Italian pipe makers think that prices have already reached the bottom. Up to the end of this year welded pipe prices from Italian producers will likely stay at present levels or they may go down slightly. Meanwhile, market insiders expect that Italian manufacturers may lift their welded pipe prices from the beginning of next year on the back of increased coil prices.
Current local prices for 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 HR coils are at about €560-600/mt ex-works, while pipes with wall thickness of 1.5-1.8 mm are at €680-720/mt ex-works (here and below on actual weight basis and excluding 20 percent VAT). Pickled pipes of sizes up to 6" from Italian producers are being offered to the domestic market at around €660-680/mt ex-works, with galvanized pipes at about €800-820/mt ex-works. Offers of welded pipes of grade B as per AI 5L are at an average of €730-760/mt ex-works.
Export quotations of Italian 2"-6" welded pipes as per EN 10219 are at about €590-630/mt FOB (transportation by sea) or €560-600/mt ex-works (transportation overland). In particular, offer prices for Spain are in ranges of €620-660/mt C&F or €600-630/mt CPT.
Romanian 1"-4" welded pipes as per EN 10219 made from base steel grade S235JR HR coils are being offered to the Italian market at €790-850/mt CPT.
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 €530-580/mt C&F to Italy and €540-590/mt C&F to Spain. The prices of Turkish welded pipes with 1.5 mm wall thickness made from CR coils are at about €585-650/mt C&F to the Italian market and at €595-660/mt C&F to the Spanish market.
Quotations of Indian black welded pipes of 1"-6" size as per BS 1387 or DIN 2440/2444 or EN 10255 to the Italian market are at the level of €600-650/mt C&F, while galvanized welded pipes are at €680-720/mt C&F.
Offers of Bulgarian welded pipes to the Spanish market are standing at an average of €660-680/mt CPT.