Steel plate suppliers in the Turkish market have decided to maintain their price positions this week, following the sizeable discounts provided last week. Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, many steel producers and consumers in Turkey and in the global market have been halting or slowing down their production since last week. Buyers only want to buy small lots for their immediate needs and they prefer prompt delivery materials because of the uncertainty in the market. As a result, according to suppliers, new price decreases will hardly help to trigger sales as slow end-user demand is the key problem.
Turkey-based Erdemir is in the market with the official price level of $550-560/mt ex-works for April-May deliveries. Big traders in Gebze are offering $570/mt for S235JR quality and $600/mt ex-warehouse for S355 quality plates and these prices are for long-term payments and prompt deliveries. In the meantime, traders in Turkey continue to offer St37 grade 15-40 mm x 1,500 mm plate at $540-560/mt ex-warehouse in Gebze and at $530-550/mt ex-warehouse in the Eregli region, SteelOrbis has learned. Prices are for advance payment for April deliveries.
In the import segment, prices also have not changed since last week. Bulgaria’s Stomana Industry S.A. is in the market with $560-570/mt CFR for S235JR grade and $600/mt CFR for S355JR grade, for May production. Ukraine’s Metinvest is offering $520-530/mt CFR, SteelOrbis has learned. Romania’s Liberty Galati’s offers are at $555-560/mt CFR Turkey. In the shipbuilding plate segment, Macedonia-based Makstil’s price is at €550/mt ($595/mt) CFR for April deliveries.