Import plate prices in Turkish market have mainly stabilized after the New Year holiday as trade has remained at moderate levels. Import scrap prices have rebounded again a little and the downward sentiment is now weaker, while flats prices have remained on the higher side. However, EU-based plate suppliers may raise their export prices based on the recent ArcelorMittal price rise for flats in Europe (by €50/mt). In the meantime, domestic plate prices in Turkey itself have already strengthened over the past three weeks, supported by some decent sales and the absence of certain foreign suppliers due to the holiday period. Currently, most offers for plate in Turkey are for March production and mostly for March shipments.
Ex-Bulgaria plate offers are now at $885/mt CFR base, while Romania is offering at $880/mt CFR, which is in line with the lower end of the previous range. However, given the uptrend in the EU, import plate prices in Turkey may increase and sources expect a hike of around $15-20/mt, at least for now. China continues to offer grade A plate at $680-685/mt CFR, SteelOrbis has learned, while South Korea has also remained at $765/mt CFR, for March-April shipments.
In the domestic market, Erdemir is offering S235/S355JR plate for March-April deliveries within $840-890/mt ex-works, depending on the specification, the customer and the order size. The producer’s prices have risen by $40-60/mt over the past three weeks in official offers, but customers still believe that certain discounts are possible in the case of serious bids.