Romanian flat steel spot traders have chosen to increase their offer prices since demand has gradually risen over the past week. Nonetheless, industry participants claim that there is now a low stock issue, particularly for hot rolled sheets, which makes it challenging to concentrate on sales. In the meantime, as the market gradually begins to wake up and is predicted to show decent demand by the end of September, the sole Romanian flat steel producer has continued to keep its offer prices stable.
“Demand is starting to increase as a result of post-holiday restocking, but it is nothing remarkable. Prices remain stable in the market compared to previous levels, because demand is still insufficient to support price increases,” a representative of the sole producer told SteelOrbis.
In this context, Romanian flat steel traders’ pricing for hot rolled sheets (HRS) has increased by €5-10/mt to €730-750/mt ex-warehouse from last week. However, some traders are trying for higher levels than the workable levels, at €760-770/mt ex-warehouse. Likewise, cold rolled sheet (CRS) prices have risen to €840-860/mt ex-warehouse, from around €830-845/mt ex-warehouse before.
On the other hand, the domestic flat steel producer in Romania has kept its hot rolled coil (HRC) and cold rolled coil (CRC) prices stable week on week at €615-620/mt ex-works and €715-720/mt ex-works, respectively.
Similarly, the mill’s domestic market pricing for HDG and PPGI is stable week on week at €785-790/mt ex-works and €1,065-1,070/mt ex-works, respectively.
In the import segment, according to sources, ex-Ukraine offers for HRS and CRC have increased from the previous week by €5-10/mt and €10-20/mt to €620/mt DAP and €720/mt DAP, respectively. Meanwhile, Macedonia has offered quarto plates for infrastructure projects in specific grades at €765/mt delivered to Romania. Furthermore, Turkish mills have reduced HRC offer prices, with mills’ prices at $570-585/mt FOB and freight costs of around €25/mt, arriving in Romania at around €535-550/mt CFR.