During the 29th week of the year, the CIS export markets for most products stopped falling, and some revival has even been seen, in particular as regards billets and some flats. As for the domestic markets, both the Russian and Ukrainian longs and flats markets continue to see deterioration. The only exception was observed in the Ukrainian market for structural steel market, the strong demand for which pushed domestic prices up. As for the domestic scrap markets, the Russian domestic scrap market is stable regardless of the tight supply situation. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian domestic scrap market continued its upward trend.
Scrap: CIS export markets remain calm
During the 29th week, the CIS Black Sea region scrap market was relatively calm in regard to Russian and Ukrainian origin A3 grade scrap purchases. This was because Turkish scrap consumers were holding back from large purchases, concluding deals only on small lots. Due to the low amount of scrap purchases concluded over the week in question, no change in price occurred either. However, both suppliers and consumers expect scrap prices to rise as autumn approaches.
The Russian domestic scrap market, which experienced a large price hike during the 27th week, has been stable since regardless of the recent increase in the amount of purchases made by domestic steelmakers. Although the situation with domestic deliveries of scrap is not satisfactory (with most mills failing to receive their projected scrap volumes), the mills are not eager to raise their procurement prices yet.
The Ukrainian domestic scrap market saw yet another price increase during the week ended July 22. This time prices went up by UAH 15/mt ($3/mt) to UAH 1,140-1,150/mt ($226-228/mt).
Long Products: CIS billets export market start to revive, longs stop falling
After the price slide of CIS origin billets came to a halt during the 28th week, the market saw some signs of revival during the 29th week of the year. However, because the domestic markets of Russia and Ukraine can offer a higher price for billets than current export quotations for the Middle East and North Africa (mainly due to competition from Chinese, Turkish and Italian exporters), the amounts offered to these regions are not very high. Yet, as the domestic markets for longs see some slowdown against the incipient revival in exports, we might see more exports offers in the approaching weeks from these countries.
As the billets market stopped its price fall, so did the longs market. Thus during the 29th week almost no change was seen as regards prices of CIS origin rebar and wire rod. However, the CIS export markets for longs are still weak in terms of purchases.
During the week ended July 22, the Russian domestic longs market continued its price decreasing trend as regards rebar. Thus, in the course of the week, the rebar price dropped in all regions of Russia by on average Ruble 350-520/mt ($14-25/mt). Meanwhile, wire rod in the domestic market saw a slight price increase during the 29th week. The price decrease for rebar in the Russian domestic market is expected to continue into next month as well as the domestic producers have announced their intention to drop their ex-work prices for August.
The Ukrainian domestic longs market was again governed by mixed trends during the 29th week. On the one hand, the rebar price continued its downward trend, decreasing by UAH 30/mt ($6/mt). On the other hand, structural steel prices continued to rise against existing scarcity and strong demand.
Flat rolled: Flats markets continue to follow mixed trends
During the 29th week, the CIS export flats market generally retained its stability in terms of prices. The only exception was Ukrainian origin materials offered to the Middle East, which slightly increased over last week. The CIS export plate market preserved its strong trend during the week ended July 22.
The Russian domestic flats market continued to experience pressure from imported materials during the week in question, and therefore continued to see a price decrease. In addition, the downward-revised prices of the domestic flats producers for HR for August shipment pushed prices in the retail market down even further. Thus, in the course of the week the HR market price decreased by Ruble 30-230/mt ($1-9/mt), depending on delivery region and material specifications.
The Ukrainian domestic flat market saw mixed trends in the 29th week. Whereas CR retained its quotations of the previous week, HR saw a UAH 15/mt ($3/mt) drop in price.