Import plate prices have decreased in Turkey, following the downturn in domestic offers which SteelOrbis reported last week. While the pressure on import offers increased, local plate demand in Turkey has remained low, mainly as project activity has been limited due to the Covid-19 outbreak. “Project activity is really limited because of the Covid-19 outbreak and everyone is trying to get project orders to be safe at the moment. Under these circumstances, sellers do not try to limit their discounts, aiming to attract demand,” a trader commented to SteelOrbis.
Bulgaria’s Stomana Industry S.A. is in the market with $520-530/mt CFR for S235JR grade and $560/mt CFR for S355JR grade for June production, down $30/mt over the past week. According to sources, Ukraine’s Metinvest has been offering $470-480/mt CFR this week, which is significantly below the levels in early April. In the shipbuilding plate segment, Macedonia-based Makstil’s price is at €530-540/mt ($595/mt) CFR for May deliveries. Discounts are also acceptable for import prices due to lack of demand.
In the local Turkish market, Erdemir is still offering at $520-530/mt ex-works for May-June deliveries, but market sources state that discounts of up to $30/mt are acceptable depending on tonnage and payment terms. Big traders in Gebze are offering $550/mt for S235JR quality and $580/mt for S355 quality plates, both ex-warehouse. In the meantime, traders’ offers for St37 grade 15-40 mm x 1,500 mm plate are at $520-540/mt ex-warehouse in Gebze and at $510-530/mt ex-warehouse in the Eregli region, SteelOrbis has learned. Traders’ prices are for advance payment and prompt deliveries. Discounts on traders’ prices have also increased and up to $30/mt is now acceptable in the local Turkish plate market for real buyers.