Merchant bar prices have softened in the last few weeks in Iran, with the exception of some I-beam sizes, after the previous rising trend which had seen prices increase significantly since June this year. The new downtrend in the Iranian merchant bar market, which started in early October, can be attributed to the slowdown in construction activities due to the approach of winter, and also to the large import volumes of some items such as I-beam and U-beam. Competition among local traders and their need to bring in cash have also contributed to the weakening of prices in the last few weeks.
Local market demand for I-beam in Iran is usually higher than demand for other types of merchant bar, resulting in comparatively higher prices for I-beam. Nowadays local traders are offering 140-270 mm I-beam at Rial 10.25- 14.05 million/mt ($967-1,325/mt), compared to Rial 9.80 - 14.45 million/mt about four weeks ago.
Iranian origin I-beam prices (all prices are on ex-stock Tehran basis and include VAT)
I-beam sizes |
million rials/mt (30.07.2011) |
million rials/mt (30.08.2011) |
million rials/mt (30.09.2011) |
million rials/mt (28.10.2011) |
140 |
9.15 |
9.60 |
9.80 |
10.25 |
160 |
9.90 |
10.40 |
10.32 |
10.45 |
180 |
12.95 |
13.55 |
13.45 |
13.11 |
200 |
14.65 |
14.65 |
14.42 |
14.05 |
220 |
14.20 |
14.41 |
14.05 |
13.75 |
240 |
15.25 |
14.24 |
14.25 |
13.58 |
270 |
11.50 |
12.21 |
12.00 |
11.70 |
U-beam prices have been coming down in the last few weeks in the local Iranian market. Prices of 80-160 mm U-beam (Iranian and Russian origin) are now standing at about Rial 10.40-10.80 million/mt ex-stock Tehran, down from Rial 11.40-11.60 million/mt four weeks before and down from Rial 11.25-11.45 million/mt eight weeks ago. Local Iranian mills do not produce so much U-beam, and so the Iranian U-beam market is mainly fed by CIS suppliers.
Russian origin U-beam prices (all prices are on ex-stock Tehran basis and include VAT )
U-beam sizes (mm) |
million rials/mt (30.07.2011) |
million rials/mt (30.08.2011) |
million rials/mt (30.09.2011) |
million rials/mt (28.10.2011) |
80-160 |
9.40-10.80 |
11.25-11.45 |
11.40-11.60 |
10.40-10.80 |
Iranian origin equal angle sizes of 30 x 30 mm - 120 x 120 mm are currently priced at about Rial 9.10-9.80 million/mt ($858-925/mt) ex-stock Tehran, down from Rial 9.80-11.00 million/mt about four weeks ago. The Iranian angles market is mainly feed by local rolling mills whose overall capacity exceeds local market demand, resulting in strong competition among local rolling mills.
Prices of Iranian origin angles (all prices are on ex-stock Tehran basis and include VAT)
Angle sizes (mm) |
million rials/mt (30.07.2011) |
million rials/mt (30.08.2011) |
million rials/mt (30.09.2011) |
million rials/mt (28.10.2011) |
30 x 30 - 120 x 120 |
8.80-10.20 |
9.30-10.60 |
9.80-11.00 |
9.10-9.80 |
US$1 = Rial 10,600 (formal rate)