Prices increase in Turkish steel plate market

Both local and import offer prices have increased in the Turkish steel plate market because of higher flat steel and raw material prices, though demand has remained low due to the insufficient number of new projects in the market. "Prices have also increased for plate with the support of higher steel and raw material prices, but we do not have any support from demand. Demand has remained sluggish despite the strengthening of the lira against the dollar and higher steel prices because we do not have a sufficient number of projects and new projects are also considered to be insufficient," a trader told SteelOrbis.

Local producer Erdemir has increased its prices by $20/mt to $600-610/mt ex-works for S235JR quality and at $630-640/mt ex-works for S355 JR quality plates, for February production.

Import prices have also increased over the same period. In the import market, Bulgaria’s Stomana Industry S.A. is now offering at $575/mt CFR for S235JR grade, increasing by $15-25/mt, and at $620-630/mt CFR for S355JR grade, up $20/mt, for January production. Offers from Romania are now standing at $565/mt CFR for S235JR quality, increased by $15-25/mt for January deliveries. South Korea is in the market with $560/mt CFR for S235JR quality and at $620/mt for S355JR, increasing by $20/mt, both for January deliveries. Also, offers from Metinvest have been heard in the market at $550-560/mt CFR for January deliveries. Plate offers from Italy are now at €460-470/mt CFR, as SteelOrbis has learned.

In the shipbuilding plate segment, Macedonia-based Makstil’s offers remain at €510/mt CFR for S235JR quality and at €540/mt CFR for S355JR quality, for December deliveries, increasing by €10/mt, SteelOrbis has learned.

Prices have increased by $20/mt since last week in the local spot market.