Import plate prices soften slightly in Turkey

Import plate offers have indicated a slight decrease as compared to last week in the Turkish domestic market, while demand has remained moderate. During Ramadan the Turkish flat steel import market is expected to remain stagnant, though after Ramadan the market will likely display a better performance.
  
Meanwhile, steel plate offers to Turkey given by Ukrainian steel producer Alchevsk Iron and Steel Works are still standing at $610-615/mt CFR for September shipments, while Bulgarian producer Stomana's August output steel plate offers to Turkey have decreased by €10/mt ($12/mt) as compared to last week and are now at the base price level of €520-530/mt ($640-652/mt) CFR. In addition, Macedonian mill Makstil's offers are currently at $790/mt CFR for August rolling, indicating a decline of $20/mt since last week.
 
In the meantime, an Italian steel producer's offers for August production RTT (rolled to thickness) plate to Turkey have declined by €25/mt ($31/mt) since last week to €500/mt ($615/mt) CFR base level, while a Russian producer's hot rolled plate (HRP) offers from its mill 2800 to Turkey still stand at the level of $660-665/mt CFR, and the producer's HRP offers from its mill 5000 to Turkey are at $690-700/mt CFR. The ex-Russia plate offers are for August production.
 
€1 = $1.23