Turkish steel plate prices rise further

In the local Turkish steel plate market, prices have continued to rise since last week, while demand has started to decline. Due to higher hot rolled coil and scrap prices, steel plate prices have also increased in Turkey, but the new increases have not been accepted by buyers as easily as before. Most buyers have already bought to meet their urgent needs and they want to wait and see the market situation. "We have increased our prices because producers' prices have increased. Prices are now at a record high and production times are so long. Buyers hesitate to buy in this market situation and they want to view the market conditions after the new year starts," a trader told SteelOrbis.

Local producer Erdemir has increased its prices by $40-50/mt to $750-770/mt ex-works for S235JR quality and to $790-820/mt ex-works for S355 JR quality plates, for April production.

Import prices have also increased over the same period. In the import market, Bulgaria’s Stomana Industry S.A. is now offering at $730-740/mt CFR for S235JR grade and at $780-790/mt CFR for S355JR grade, increasing by $20/mt, for February production. New levels from  Romania and South Korea have not been heard in the market since last week, but offers from Metinvest have been heard at $720-730/mt CFR Turkey in the market, for March production.

In the shipbuilding plate segment, Macedonia-based Makstil’s offers are at €610/mt CFR for S235JR quality, increasing by €30/mt since last week and at €640/mt CFR for S355JR quality, for January-February deliveries, SteelOrbis has learned.

In the local spot market, prices have increased by $30-40/mt since last week.