Import plate prices in Turkey have mainly moved down in early December, while demand has remained moderate. Some suppliers have decided to provide discounts while offering with long lead times. However, lower scrap prices and sliding HRC prices in the domestic market in Turkey have put additional pressure on local plate offer prices.
Steel plate offers from China are now at $580-590/mt CFR base for January shipments, up $10/mt over the past fortnight, but the discounts are considered applicable. South Korea is now in the market with a $600/mt CFR base price, down $30/mt, but the material is for February shipment.
Offers from Europe have changed little over the past couple of weeks. While the Romanian mill is still waiting to restart its crude steel production, the Bulgarian supplier has cut its price by $30/mt to $730/mt CFR, sources say. Macedonia’s Makstil is offering at €710/mt CFR for S235JR grade and €740/mt CFR for S355 JR.
In the local market, Turkey’s plate producer, according to sources, is in the market with $680-690/mt ex-works base, down from $710-720/mt ex-works a month ago. In the retail market, S355JR plate prices are reported to have decreased by $20-30/mt to $780-820/mt ex-warehouse for S355JR grades.