Buying activity remains fairly good in the Polish welded pipe market as favorable weather conditions have allowed construction activity to continue during the traditionally sluggish months of December and January. Poland's welded pipe producers have increased their offers by around €20-30/mt over the past three weeks in response to firm demand and the growing cost of flat steel, and are likely to maintain this upward trend into February. As expected, foreign welded pipe suppliers have also started to raise their prices following the upward trend in the Polish market.
Accordingly, import offers of Italian welded pipes have moved up by around €30-40/mt over the past three weeks. Bulgarian suppliers have lifted their offers by €20/mt, while quotations of Czech pipes have gone up by €30-40/mt. The general outlook for welded pipe demand in Poland for 2012 is positive, reflecting forecasts for firm economic growth in the country.
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 €700-730/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 HRC according to EN 10219 are in the range €580-600/mt ex-works. ERW galvanized pipes made to EN 10240 are quoted for local customers at €900-910/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 €600-640/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 €560-580/mt CPT on theoretical weight basis.
Czech suppliers are offering hollow sections as per EN 10219 to the Polish market at about €580-600/mt CPT.