Import plate prices trend up in Turkey, allocation limited

Turkey’s local steel plate prices have remained stable over the past week due to relatively firm hot rolled coil (HRC) offers and limited demand. Import price levels, on the other hand, have increased, mainly due to the better business conditions in Europe. "Import prices have continued to increase because there is not a big allocation for Turkey, suppliers prefer to sell mainly to the EU because demand and price levels are better there. Price levels of €900/mt ($1,090/mt) have already been heard in the European market for steel plates. In this situation, many producers have allocated their production volumes to that market," a trader told SteelOrbis.

Prices from the local Turkish producer Erdemir have been heard in the market at $1,010-1,030/mt ex-works for S235JR quality and at $1,040-1,060/mt ex-works for S355JR quality plates for August production, unchanged over the past week.

In the import segment, Bulgaria’s Stomana Industry S.A is offering August production at $1,125-1,135/mt CFR for S235JR grade and at $1,165-1,185/mt CFR for S355JR grade, up $115/mt over the past week. Romania is in the market with $1,090-1,100/mt CFR for S235JR grade material for June-July rolling, up $40/mt over the past week. Metinvest is again in the market but only with limited allocation and prices are at $1,025-1,030/mt CFR for August production, as SteelOrbis has heard.

In the shipbuilding plate segment, Macedonia-based Makstil is offering at €890/mt CFR for S235JR quality and at €920/mt CFR for S355JR quality, for July deliveries, increasing by €40/mt over the past week, as SteelOrbis learned.

Prices have been stable in the local Turkish spot market since last week.