The Romanian flat steel spot market has failed to sustain its earlier upward momentum, with prices remaining largely stable over the past week. Market sentiment has stayed weak, leaving little room for further price increases amid harsh winter conditions, delayed construction activity, ongoing liquidity constraints and subdued end-user demand. As business activity has slowed further, spot traders have focused mainly on closing limited volumes, with some offering selective discounts to serious buyers, particularly for larger tonnages. On the domestic production side, uncertainty has continued to weigh on the market due to developments at Romania’s sole flat steel producer, Liberty Galati. Court hearings related to the company’s financial obligations have been held this week, during which outstanding debts and unpaid wages affecting employees have been added to the case. However, no official statement has been issued by the producer, leaving the situation unresolved and market confidence fragile.
In this context, spot market prices for hot rolled sheet (HRS) have remained unchanged at €725-740/mt ex-warehouse, in line with the previous week. Similarly, cold rolled sheet (CRS) prices have also remained stable, at €835-845/mt ex-warehouse, reflecting the lack of fresh buying interest.
In the import market, activity has likewise remained subdued, with similar demand-side challenges reported across neighboring markets. This has resulted in largely stable offer levels over the past week. According to reports, Ukrainian suppliers have kept their offers unchanged, with HRS quoted at €665-675/mt CPT and CRS at €755-765/mt CPT. At the same time, a Slovak supplier has maintained HRS offers at €670-680/mt CPT, unchanged week on week. By contrast, Turkish mills have lowered their quotations amid weaker trading activity, reducing HRC offers for March and April shipment by around €15/mt to €465-480/mt CFR, based on estimated freight costs of €15-20/mt. These price levels are duty-free depending on the origin, although Turkish material continues to be subject to EU antidumping duties.
