Trading activity in the plate market in Turkey has been rather weak, according to market players, mainly due to limited end-user demand and the still tight financial situation in the country. As a result, some suppliers have provided slight discounts compared to early this month, but over the past week prices have remained relatively stable since any major price drop is not likely to create additional demand.
Local integrated producer Erdemir is still officially offering St 37-44 steel plate at $750/mt ex-works, while large customers believe that $10-20/mt discounts are possible depending on the order size and breakdown. In the retail market, S275JR plate is available at $790/mt, while S355JR material is available at $830-840/mt, both on ex-warehouse basis.
Import offers are much different these days depending on the supplier and its position in the market. Over the past week, ex-Bulgaria plate offers have remained at $800/mt CFR for July shipments, while Romania, according to sources, is offering at $760-770/mt CFR officially. Offers from South Korea are quite scarce due to the ongoing antidumping investigation and only some sources report offers at $730-740/mt CFR for July-August shipments. Chinese offers for grade A plate are at $660-665/mt CFR nowadays for lots to be shipped in August.
Suppliers report demand has been weaker lately and that buyers are mainly hesitant, particularly as regards purchases from the domestic market. “We receive less inquiries and it is very difficult to turn them into even a small order. The general financial situation affects business a lot,” a trading source told SteelOrbis.
