Heavy plate prices have mostly remained stable in Turkey over the past two weeks and only some the suppliers have provided discounts, partly due to their long lead times and the need to spur buyers’ interest. Most offers are for December production and shipments, while some sellers are already offering for January.
In the domestic market, integrated producer Erdemir is offering in the range of $800-830/mt ex-works depending on the order, which is almost in line with the previously reported levels. In the retail market, traders’ plate prices have also remained stable, at $890-920/mt ex-warehouse.
Import offers from Bulgaria and Romania are also stable over the past fortnight, at $830/mt and $820/mt CFR for December shipments, respectively. In the meantime, South Korea has decreased its official offer by $10/mt to $720/mt CFR. Sources report that buyers’ price ideas for the Korean material is below $700/mt CFR, since it will be shipped at the end of December-early January and the sailing time is 30 days minimum. Chinese prices are now standing at $635/mt CFR for commercial plate grades, versus $630-650/mt CFR two weeks ago.