Despite a lack of demand and competitive import offers from other countries, the sole flat steel supplier in Romania has maintained its pricing this week at the same levels. “We're taking a break this week to see where it goes, so we'll be back next week,” a representative of the producer told SteeOrbis.
However, Romanian flats retailers have dropped their prices in the hot roll sheet (HRS) segment because of extremely poor demand and certain economic concerns, while raising their prices for cold roll sheet (CRS) due to somewhat stronger demand.
In particular, according to sources, in the hot roll coil (HRC) segment, Italy and Serbia are giving €620/mt and €613/mt delivered to Romania, respectively, while Egypt is providing a low offer of €580/mt CIF to Constanta port for shipment in March, it is unclear whether this is for overrroling or second-choice material at the time of publication. Furthermore, for PPGI, Italy made an offer at €1,100/mt DAP for the first quarter.
The domestic flat steel producer in Romania is still offering hot rolled coil and cold rolled coil (CRC) at €630/mt ex-works and €780/mt ex-works respectively, the same as a week ago.
Similarly, the mill’s domestic market pricing for HDG and PPGI in the category of coated steel has been maintained at €870/mt ex-works and €1,150-1,200/mt ex-works, respectively, unaltered from previous weeks.
On the other hand, traders' prices for hot rolled sheets have decreased to €705-795/mt ex-warehouse, down from €790-870/mt ex-warehouse last week.
“Due to very low demand and certain companies being in need of cash to sustain their cash flow, prices on hot roll sheets have decreased this week,” a Romanian trader told SteelOrbis.
Meanwhile, the feasible price for cold rolled sheets has climbed by €70 to €975-1,040/mt ex-warehouse.
