Turkish steel plate offers mostly stable, demand low

Demand has remained low while prices have not changed much in the Turkish steel plate market over the past week. Despite the higher hot rolled coil (HRC) and flat steel prices, given the high stock levels and low business activity Turkish plate offers have failed to follow the increasing price trend in the country. "Buyers are not willing to pay more for steel plates at the moment. Of course, traders can increase their prices, but some of them obviously will continue to sell with lower prices because of their high stock levels. In these circumstances, there is no way to increase our prices." a trader told SteelOrbis.

Big traders in the Gebze region are now offering at $520-530/mt for S235JR quality and $560-570/mt for S355 quality plates, both ex-warehouse, stable since last week. In the meantime, traders’ offers for St37 grade 15-40 mm x 1,500 mm plate are at $500-520/mt ex-warehouse in Gebze and at $490-510/mt ex-warehouse in the Eregli region, also stable, SteelOrbis has learned. The levels are for advance payment and prompt deliveries. Erdemir has increased its offers by $10/mt to $510-520/mt ex-works for S235JR quality and $560/mt ex-works for S355 quality plates for July deliveries with the support of higher HRC prices, but discounts are still acceptable.

Import offers have not changed since last week but discounts remain. Bulgaria’s Stomana Industry S.A. is in the market with $540-550/mt CFR for S235JR grade and $580/mt CFR for S355JR grade for July production. In the shipbuilding plate segment, Macedonia-based Makstil’s price is at €530/mt CFR for July deliveries, SteelOrbis has learned.