During the 31st week, the CIS export markets followed different trends depending on production group. On the one hand, price of A3 grade scrap in export market increased due to continuous rise in the freight rates. On the other, CIS semis and longs export markets experienced a continuation of revival. Meanwhile, the CIS origin flats did not show any changes. The Russian and Ukrainian domestic markets, which more or less saw similar trends during the previous weeks, followed different directions last week. Thus, both Russian longs and flats markets, being under pressure from imported products, were governed by price decreasing trend. Meanwhile, the prices halt to decrease in the Ukrainian longs market, while negative price corrections have been seen with regards to HR steel retail market.
Scrap: CIS scrap continues to rise in export markets due to soaring freight rates
The Black Sea region scrap market continued to show upward movement as regard to A3 grade scrap price in the 31st week. Although FOB quotation for CIS-origin scrap did not change, the scrap prices increased by about $5/mt in the Turkish market due to increased freight rates. However, Turkish scrap consumers were reluctant to accept the increase in A3 scrap price, waiting for better times for large purchases.
The Russian domestic scrap market retained its nervous stability in the week ended August 5. The only change in the market was observed in the country's south regions since, giving a continuous increase in the freight rates, they are most vulnerable to price changes at the moment due to the close proximity to the main export ports.
The Ukrainian domestic scrap market saw some changes in the 31st week as well. However, the correction bore a leveling characteristic, narrowing the gap between the lower and upper levels of the price. Thus, during the week ended August 5, the scrap price in the Ukrainian domestic market stood at the level of UAH 1,120-1,190/mt ($224-238/mt).
Long products: CIS billets are on new price rising wave
The CIS origin billets indicated an upward movement in their export prices during the 31st week of the year. Absence of competition from the Chinese billets exporters in the Middle East market allowed CIS exporters to up their billet prices by $5-10/mt further.
The CIS longs export market, following example of the billet market, continued its recovery during the 31st week. Yet, although demand for longs is becoming stronger in the main export markets, the Ukrainian longs exporters preferred to keep their prices stable for a while, especially because of availability of cheaper offers in the markets such as offers of Italian origin materials in Algeria.
The longs in the Russian domestic market were still showing downward movement since large amount of imported material was still present in the market. Thus, during the week in question, rebar in the Russian retail market dropped yet another Ruble 30-200/mt ($1-8/mt) depending on the region. Yet, the market players expect the market to restore its previously held position soon given the revival signs in global longs market and limitations put on Ukrainian rebar supplies to Russia.
Rebar prices continued to stay stable in the Ukrainian domestic market during the week ended August 5, thanks to revival in the export market and unchanged price policies of domestic producers. On the other hand, the structural steel saw slight increase in retail prices, profiting from scarcity of this form of products in the market. Thus, beam went up by UAH 30/mt ($6/mt), angle rose by UAH 23/mt ($4.5/mt) while channel bar increased by UAH 15/mt ($3/mt).
Flat rolled: Export quotations are still stable
Although CIS longs market experienced some positive corrections in the 31st week as regards some products, the same origin flats in export markets were not showing such promising signs, remaining stable throughout the week in question. However a new downsizing in production by some flats producers may create a scarcity in the global market in the approaching months and therefore provide a push for price increase.
Due to the fact that the Russian domestic flats market has a strong bond with the country's longs market, it came as no surprise that flats market followed footsteps of longs in price decrease trend during the 31st week. Thus, HR decreased Ruble 40-140/mt ($1.5-5.5/mt), CR dropped Ruble 200-500/mt ($8-20/mt) while galvanized steel decreased by Ruble 100-200/mt ($3.5-$7/mt) in the Russian retail market last week.
The Ukrainian domestic market was relatively stable during the week ended August 5. The only price change was seen in HR price, which decreased by UAH 10/mt ($2/mt).