Interpipe has almost left the Ukrainian market of welded pipes for construction because of a considerable fluctuation of prices for strips in January-June.
“In spring, prices for flat rolled metal reached $50-60. It was difficult to shape price for end customers, so we decided not to take risks and tried to sell products mostly from stock”, Interpipe first deputy CEO Denis Morozov has said.
Sometimes, seamless pipes cost less than welded ones.
“Strips got expensive so quick, that it was problematic to produce welded pipe with good prime cost. We have even suspended the operation of the electric pipe welding shop at Interpipe NMTZ”, he added.
Now the company is waiting for the market to stabilize and for its plant in Novomoskovsk to resume operation. (Ukrainian metal)