In the Turkish domestic pig iron market, local steelmaker Kardemir last week announced a new price list, increasing its domestic pig iron prices. Accordingly, Kardemir's local sales price of H1 has reached $565/mt + VAT, its local sales price of H1 stands at $555/mt + VAT, its price of C1 stands at $540/mt + VAT, while its sales price of C2 stands at $530/mt VAT. Most of the foundries in Turkey, having filled their order books, have continued to conclude bookings only to meet their urgent needs.
As regards ex-CIS pig iron export offers, Ukrainian pig iron export offers have increased to $485-490/mt FOB for late January deliveries. The rise in import scrap prices in Turkey has been a determining factor in pig iron suppliers' decisions to increase their prices. SteelOrbis has learned that some Russian suppliers have remained reluctant to announce price levels for the export markets, while ex-Russia pig iron export offers are thought to be in the range of $500-510/mt FOB. Meanwhile, SteelOrbis has been informed that pig iron import offers from the CIS to Turkey via traders stand at $515-520/mt CFR; however, Turkish meltshops are approaching these offers cautiously.
On the ferroalloy side, in the past week a slight softening has been observed in SiMn (silicomanganese) offers given to Turkey. Recently, China has started to give SiMn offers to Far Eastern countries, including Vietnam. The re-export of these materials to the international ferroalloy market has increased the influence of Far Eastern suppliers and contributed to the softening of prices.
As scrap import prices for Turkey gain more definite shape, the price ranges in the Turkish pig iron market are also expected to become clearer.