In June , Turkey's flat steel imports, especially of hot rolled coil (HRC), were in decent volumes due to advantageous import price offers. In the next two weeks, steel producers from the CIS and Europe are expected to announce their flat steel offers to Turkey for August rolling. Since flat steel purchases in Turkey continue within the frame of buyers' needs, it is thought that, if new price offers stay at reasonable levels, imports will then be a viable option for Turkish buyers, especially for HRC. In the meantime, foreign flat steel suppliers to Turkey have been unable to attract enough demand for their hot dip galvanized (HDG) coil offers, contrary to the situation as regards their HRC and cold rolled coil (CRC) offers.
Currently, Ukrainian steel producers' HRC offers to Turkey are standing at the price range of $540-560/mt CFR, while Russian HRC offers to Turkey are at $595/mt CFR and Romanian offers are at $615-625/mt CFR. In the meantime, Russian CRC export offers are standing at $660-695/mt FOB, while Romanian CRC offers to Turkey are at $725-735/mt CFR.
As SteelOrbis previously reported, given that HRC prices in the Turkish domestic market are at $615-635/mt and CRC prices are at $730-750/mt, both ex-works, some market players think that import flat steel offers to Turkey may remain at the current advantageous levels, while some other market players state that import offers may increase next month, believing that prices have already hit bottom levels.