Local traders' Iranian origin 10-25 mm light plate offers have been at the level of $785-795/mt ex-stock Tehran, showing an increase of $10-15/mt as compared to last week. Meanwhile, Iranian origin 30-100 mm heavy plate has stood at a very high price level, i.e. $975-980/mt ex-stock Tehran.
Kaavian rolling mill is the sole local supplier of heavy plate 30-100 mm in the Iranian domestic market. It has reduced production capacity of heavy plate in recent weeks and it is why heavy plate prices have raised so much nowadays. Some certain sizes of light plates supplied by Mobarakeh and Ferro-Gillan for Kaavian have been at more competitive price levels at present.
However, the current conditions in the Iranian light and heavy plate market has prevented most of traders to place any large orders, as they have been anxious about prices may collapse and cause heavy losses for them. They have just preferred to buy whatever for which there is a ready client in the market and nothing else.
CIS origin plate offers have been $50-150/mt higher than Iranian origin plate. Also, Chinese origin plate has a small market share in Iran, due to its low quality and uncompetitive prices.
Currently local supply of light and heavy plate does not satisfy the market demand at all and imported plate can play a key role in stabilizing and modification of prices, especially those of heavy plates.
Iran imported about 280,000 mt of plate (over the thickness of 10 mm and over 1,850 mm width) in last 10 months (March 2008-January 2009), while Iran imported about 480,000 mt in the corresponding period of last year - showing a decrease of 59 percent.