Trading activity has been slow in the Polish market for welded pipes over the past month amid weak market fundamentals. However, Polish welded pipe producers have increased prices by €10-20/mt ($36-44/mt) over the given period amid higher flat steel prices in the country. Import offers of Czech and Bulgarian welded pipes have increased by a maximum of €10/mt ($13/mt), while offers of Italian origin material have gone up by €40-50/mt ($52-65/mt) over the period under review. However, demand for welded pipes in the Polish market remains slack amid seasonal slowdowns, financial problems and the approach of the Christmas-New Year holiday season. Market players believe slack demand will not allow welded pipe suppliers raise their offers again in the short term, and prices are likely to stay unchanged in December.
Current domestic quotations of locally produced 3/8"-6" water and gas ERW pipes of 2.6-4.5 mm wall thickness made to EN 10255 are at €700-720/mt ($910-936/mt) delivered, exclusive of 23 percent VAT. Offers of square and rectangular hollow sections with 2-4 mm wall thickness made from S235 JRH grade hot rolled coil (HRC) according to EN 10219 are in the range of €580-600/mt ($754-780/mt) ex-works. ERW galvanized pipes made to EN 10240 are quoted for local customers at €890-910/mt ($1,157-1,183/mt) delivered.
Quotations of Italian black welded pipes of 2"-6" size with wall thickness of 2.0-4.0 mm as per EN 10219 made from S235JR grade HR coils to the Polish market are at the level of €680-700/mt ($884-910/mt) CPT on actual weight basis.
Offers of Bulgarian ERW pipes and hollow sections of 2-5 mm wall thickness made from S235JR grade HRC as per EN 10219 to Polish customers are standing at an average of €550-580/mt ($715-754/mt) CPT on theoretical weight basis.
Czech suppliers are offering hollow sections as per EN 10219 to the Polish market at about €570-580/mt ($741-754/mt) CPT.
€1 = $1.3