CIS offers again decreased slightly this week. It was possible to find prices at $500/mt FOB Black Sea and even below this level in the market for June shipment. On the other hand, there were some producers offering at $520/mt FOB Black Sea and above. However, these offers are out of the market. According to reports, sales have been concluded to Turkey's southern ports at $530/mt CFR last week and at $520/mt CFR this week. Furthermore, it is reported that an offer has been made to Jordan at $530/mt CFR.
It is possible to find different price levels in the Turkish domestic market. The latest prices of the Turkish mills, Karabuk Demir Celik and Isdemir, are at $560/mt. Rolling mills in these regions are naturally not interested in this level. However, it would not be exact to say that producers in these regions are currently very worried about pushing sales. Isdemir is full until July. Although the listed prices are high in Turkey's Marmara region, it is possible to find billet at $540/mt. Producers are mentioning high prices in Izmir, but import pressure may cause a downward revision of producers' prices in this region. Export prices are at $515-520/mt FOB Turkish ports. However, no bookings have been concluded at these levels yet.
Billet prices have seen significant correction in April. Both CIS and Turkish billet prices fell almost $50/mt. Producers in these regions are not happy about this situation. However, this decrease seems to be keeping Chinese billet away from the Mediterranean, Middle East and even from the Gulf region. This situation may help the CIS producers in particular to conclude huge tonnage sales at the current levels. Furthermore, Egyptian producers, who are experiencing a difficult period due to the export tax and fixed domestic prices, may return to the billet market by making purchases at the current levels. Furthermore, if the movement felt in scrap prices this week reveals itself as a tangible increase, then the decrease trend in the prices of the billet producers may come to an end.