As the year nears its end, domestic demand for flat products in Turkey is at insufficient levels, and most lots are available for February deliveries, while some January volumes are also available from some suppliers, particularly in the coated steel segment. However, the official prices for HRC and other flats in Turkey are mainly stable. Mills are keeping prices high with barely any support from the demand side. “High scrap prices and the unclear trends in the EU are keeping prices up, but, without decent sales, it cannot continue like this,” a trader told SteelOrbis. As a result, some discounts are applicable for serious orders, especially for coated products, excluding tinplate.
Local HRC prices in Turkey have remained at $555-565/mt ex-works for February deliveries, while $5/mt discounts are considered possible. Still, demand has been low, especially from the re-rolling side, taking into account the slow demand for basic coated products in particular. “The import HRC segment has remained quiet in Turkey, with China’s offers for re-rolling companies settling at $500-502/mt CFR for February shipments, almost in line with the previous week. The HRC offers for pipe-makers have been reported from some traders at $515/mt CFR, for large lots of S235JR materials.
A similar situation is seen in the Turkish coated and CRC segment, where prices are kept stable and at relatively high levels, while $15-20/mt discounts are provided for serious orders since the sales dynamics are rather low. Local base HDG prices are at $750-780/mt ex-works for end-of-January and February deliveries, while some are insisting on $790/mt ex-works as well. Export indications are officially at $700-720/mt FOB base, but, according to sources, $690/mt FOB is also achievable for good order volumes. Some suppliers are even reporting workable levels down to $670-680/mt FOB, but the level is not considered to be widespread.
Local PPGI prices are at $850-880/mt ex-works for commercial grades, while for exports the realistic price is at around $820-850/mt FOB. It is noteworthy that the official prices are at least $10-20/mt higher than the mentioned levels.
Turkey’s tin plate prices have been reported in the latest sales closed in the domestic market at $950-970/mt ex-works base. “Tinplate sales are closed. Maybe they will be restarted in a few days just to see the AD effect,” a source told SteelOrbis.
Turkey’s CRC prices have also stabilized at $650-670/mt ex-works in the domestic market and at around $635/mt FOB on average for exports.