SteelOrbis has heard that Turkish rolling mills are offering angles for export at $820-840/mt FOB on actual weight basis for April shipments. In addition, flat bars are being offered at $830-850/mt FOB while NPI-NPU are being offered at $830-850/mt FOB, 80-100-120 mm IPE is at $890-900/mt FOB, and 80-100-120 mm IPE AA is at $900-910/mt FOB - all on actual weight basis and also for early April shipments.
Along with the international iron ore price increase of 65 percent announced earlier in the week, the upward movement in the international billet prices has also affected the Turkish merchant bar export prices. Billet sales from Ukraine to Turkey have reached a level of $690/mt FOB, while the price level of the item in question in the Turkish domestic market has reached $700-720/mt. The rolling mills, which are currently not overeager to set prices due to the rapid increase in semi-finished products, say that price levels will be defined more clearly as of next week. It is thought that the prices which the mills will set will be accepted by the international market and will prove to be profitable. The prices for Turkish merchant bar exports have been at slightly higher levels compared to recent weeks. Also, the Turkish export levels, which are at somewhat higher for Europe, are gaining acceptance in the Middle East market.