In the last two weeks, merchant bar prices in Iran have continued the upward trend which started after the return in early April from the Iranian New Year holiday. Currency fluctuations have also been exerting an influence on the Iranian steel product markets recently. Most local traders have closed their sales as prices may go up further in the coming days: meanwhile, most buyers are delaying their orders as they think the uptrend is temporary and prices will return to their previous levels in the near future. The transaction volume in the Iranian merchant bar market has declined in the last few days, as most buyers and sellers have left the market, preferring to remain on the sidelines for the time being.
Iranian origin I-beam prices:
140 mm = $800/mt ( $0/mt)
160 mm = $805/mt (-$5/mt)
180 mm = $850/mt (+$20/mt)
200 mm = $1,220/mt(+$110/mt)
220 mm = $1,030/mt (+$50/mt)
240 mm = $920/mt (+$20/mt)
270 mm = $915/mt (-$15/mt)
All prices are on ex-stock Tehran basis and have been compared to two weeks ago.
Prices of most sizes of U-beam have also been rising in the last two weeks in the local Iranian market. 80-160 mm U-beam (of Iranian and Russian origin) are now standing at about $940-960/mt ex-stock Tehran, up from $860-950/mt about two weeks ago and up from $840-955/mt about four weeks ago. Iranian mills do not produce so much U-beam, with the Iranian U-beam market mainly being fed by CIS suppliers at present.
Iranian origin equal angles in the size range of 30 x 30 mm - 120 x 120 mm are currently priced at about $800-860 ex-stock Tehran, compared to $765-870 ex-stock Tehran two weeks ago and compared to $760-865/mt about four weeks ago. Iran's angles market is mainly fed by domestic mills, with strong competition prevailing among local suppliers.
US$1 = Rials 10,450