On December 15, SteelOrbis reported ex-China offers to Chile for flat steel at $615/mt CFR for HRC, $650-655/mt CFR for CRC, and HDG at $710-715/mt CFR.
Sources inform SteelOrbis that as the year-ends offers are trending generally stable-to-strong. While offers for HRC and CRC are reportedly trending stable, offers for HDG have been heard widening the top of the previous range by $5/mt at $710-720/mt CFR. While sales are limited due to year-end holidays and hopes by some buyers of a possible softness in the Chinese market after the New Year, a source noted a strong buying interest for HDG selections in the region. Additionally, he commented that "while some buyers do expect a softness in the market, others believe that steel prices may increase further through the first quarter of 2018."