Prices stable, demand low in Turkish steel plate market

Demand has remained at low levels while prices have been stable in the Turkish steel plate market since last week. "Plate producers are trying to increase their prices but demand is really low and buyers have already declared that they will not accept any possible increase in prices. Also inventories are high in the spot market and economic uncertainty continues in the country. In this outlook, any price increase does not seem possible," a trader told SteelOrbis. 

Local producer Erdemir's plate prices are at $580-590/mt ex-works for S235JR quality and $610-620/mt ex-works for S355 JR quality plates, for November-December production.
Import prices have also not changed since last week. In the import market, Bulgaria’s Stomana Industry S.A. is offering $530-540/mt CFR for S235JR grade and $590/mt CFR for S355JR grade for November production. Offers from Romania are now standing at $520/mt CFR for S235JR quality and at $545/mt CFR for S355JR quality plates for November deliveries. Offers from Italy are at €520/mt CFR for S235JR quality, while offers from South Korea are standing at $540/mt CFR for S235JR quality and at $600/mt for S355JR, both for November deliveries, as SteelOrbis has learned. Also, Metinvest's offers for steel plates have been heard in the market at $520-525/mt CFR Turkey for November shipments.
In the shipbuilding plate segment, prices have not changed, Macedonia-based Makstil’s price is at €500/mt CFR for S235JR quality and €530/mt CFR for S355JR quality, for November deliveries, SteelOrbis has learned.

Retail plate prices in Turkey, $/mt