Different trends in Turkish steel plate market

In the Turkish steel plate market, demand has remained low and local prices have declined in the last two weeks. On the other hand, import offer prices have increased after the New Year holidays. Low demand, pressure from buyers, and low-priced HRC import offers have resulted in lower steel plate prices in the local Turkish market. But import prices have continued to increase mainly because of the strength of flat steel prices in the EU. The price gap between local and import prices have hit almost $100/mt and the market has become even more unclear.  "We must wait and see the market conditions in these circumstances. Some buyers have already agreed to buy from local suppliers, but some buyers think they can obtain better prices from import sources soon. But most buyers want to see a clearer picture of the market," a trader told SteelOrbis.

Prices from local producer Erdemir have been heard at $750-770/mt ex-works for S235JR quality and at $790-820/mt ex-works for S355 JR quality plates, for April production, decreasing by $40/mt in the last two weeks.

On the import side, Bulgaria’s Stomana Industry S.A offers $830-840/mt CFR for S235JR grade and $870-880/mt CFR for S355JR grade for march deliveries, have increased by $50-60/mt since before the New Year holidays. Offers from Romania are still not heard in the market, while the price idea was at $840/mt CFR last week before the decreases in the local Turkish market. Offers from South Korea have been heard at $730/mt FOB in the market, while Italian offers have been heard at €600-610/mt CFR for April deliveries. Buyers also expect to hear offers from Metinvest this week.

In the shipbuilding plate segment, Macedonia-based Makstil is offering €670/mt CFR for S235JR quality and at €700/mt CFR for S355JR quality, for February-March deliveries, increasing by €60/mt since last month, SteelOrbis has learned.

Local Turkish spot prices have decreased by $20/mt in the last two weeks.